Marwa Warns Drug Cartels: “Nigeria Is Not, and Will Never Be, Your Foothold”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted another major cocaine shipment at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, detaining a Brazil-bound vessel and its 20-man Filipino crew. The operation comes barely six months after 10 Thai sailors were convicted and fined $4.3 million for a similar offence in Nigeria.
The latest interception occurred on Sunday, 16 November 2025, when NDLEA officers discovered 20 kilograms of cocaine concealed beneath the cargo of MV Nord Bosporus (IMO 9760110), which had sailed from the port of Santos, Brazil. The ship’s Master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, and 19 crew members—all Filipinos—were immediately taken into custody.
Following the arrests, the NDLEA sought and obtained a court order to detain both the vessel and the crew for further investigation. Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted the motion ex-parte (Suit No. FHC/L/MISC/1306/25) on Thursday, 20 November 2025, approving an initial 14-day detention period.
Preliminary findings indicate that MV Nord Bosporus was making its first voyage to Nigeria and the African continent, having reportedly operated primarily between Colombia and Brazil transporting coal. Investigators also found that Captain Corpus had been assigned to the ship only three months earlier.
This incident mirrors the 2021 arrest of 10 Thai nationals aboard MV Chayanee Naree, who were implicated in trafficking 32.9 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil to Nigeria. The crew, alongside nine Nigerian accomplices, was eventually convicted on 15 May 2025 by Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court, which imposed a fine of $4.3 million.
Reacting to the latest seizure, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), hailed the Apapa Strategic Command and the Directorate of Seaport Operations for what he described as a demonstration of “heightened capacity and unwavering resolve.”
He said the interception sends a strong message to transnational drug syndicates who persist in exploiting Nigeria’s seaports.
“This is not just an operational success; it is proof that we are tightening the grip on all entry and exit points,” Marwa stated. “Let this be an unambiguous message to every international drug cartel and their collaborators: Nigeria is not, and will never be, your space or your foothold.”
He warned that the NDLEA is operating with zero tolerance for illicit drug trafficking, insisting that smugglers will continue to fail despite attempts at sophisticated concealment. According to him, the Agency’s intelligence network, strengthened international partnerships and committed personnel have placed Nigeria ahead of criminal operations.
Marwa also issued a stern warning to Nigerians who collaborate with foreign drug syndicates.
“You are not just committing a crime; you are betraying your nation’s future,” he said. “The consequences will be severe and unrelenting. We will dismantle your structures, seize your illicit assets and ensure long-term incarceration.”
The NDLEA says investigations into the vessel, crew and potential local collaborators are ongoing.
