(DDM) – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted another major cocaine shipment at the Apapa seaport, detaining a foreign vessel and its 20 Filipino crew members in what officials describe as an escalating transnational narcotics operation targeting Nigeria’s maritime borders.
The latest seizure involved 20 kilograms of cocaine concealed beneath cargo aboard MV Nord Bosporus, a vessel that arrived from the port of Santos in Brazil on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed the interception in a statement issued on Friday, noting that the discovery was made during routine inspection by operatives at the Apapa Command.
He said the ship’s Master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, along with his 19 crew members, was immediately arrested following the uncovering of the cocaine stash.
The agency swiftly approached the Federal High Court in Lagos with an ex parte application seeking authorization to detain the vessel and crew for investigative purposes.
Justice Musa Kakaki granted a 14-day interim detention order on Thursday, November 20, allowing NDLEA investigators to probe the vessel’s movements, crew communications, and potential links to international drug cartels.
According to preliminary findings released by the agency, MV Nord Bosporus was making its first voyage to Nigeria and, indeed, its first journey to any port in Africa.
NDLEA investigators further revealed that the vessel predominantly transported coal between Colombia and Brazil in previous assignments.
Captain Corpus, the agency noted, had only assumed command of the ship about three months ago.
Officials said these details are fueling broader inquiries into whether the ship was deliberately selected by international syndicates seeking new smuggling routes.
NDLEA sources also disclosed that the seizure comes barely six months after the conviction of ten Thai sailors aboard another vessel, MV Chayanee Naree, who were imprisoned and fined $4.3 million for attempting to traffic 32.9kg of cocaine into Nigeria in 2021.
The agency said this repeated pattern of South American-linked shipments signals renewed efforts by global drug networks to exploit Nigeria as a strategic transit hub.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), praised the Apapa Command and the Directorate of Seaport Operations for what he described as a demonstration of vigilance, diligence, and world-class professionalism.
Marwa said the operation underscores the agency’s strengthened intelligence network, improved surveillance capabilities, and firm resolve to shut down illicit drug corridors.
He declared that Nigeria would never become a safe passage for international drug cartels under his watch.
He warned traffickers that no level of concealment or sophistication would outsmart the agency’s surveillance system.
Marwa emphasized that NDLEA’s partnerships with global security agencies have increased the country’s capacity to intercept narcotics at their entry points.
He also cautioned Nigerians collaborating with foreign syndicates, insisting that their actions amount to a betrayal of the country’s security and future.
He vowed that the NDLEA would dismantle their networks, seize their assets, and ensure their prosecution and long-term imprisonment.
NDLEA officials confirmed that investigations into the MV Nord Bosporus case are ongoing as operatives work to trace the broader cartel behind the latest shipment.
They added that the agency is currently analyzing cargo manifests, communication logs, and shipping records to establish whether the vessel has been involved in similar operations elsewhere.
The NDLEA stressed that more arrests may follow as the investigation widens to uncover every individual connected to the smuggling attempt.
The agency reiterated its commitment to a zero-tolerance approach against drug trafficking, stating that criminal syndicates will continue to face fierce resistance across all Nigerian entry points.