A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 10 Filipino sailors and their vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, for trafficking 20 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil through Apapa port, imposing fines totaling $6 million and N1.1 million.
The crew, arrested in November 2025 by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, pleaded guilty under a plea bargain.
Justice Ayokunle Faji ruled the vessel and crew guilty under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act, ordering restitution alongside penalties.
NDLEA Chairman Mohamed Buba Marwa called the ruling “a resounding victory for the rule of law” and a warning to international drug cartels.
“Nigeria’s territorial waters are no longer a playground for illicit narcotics,” he said.
Marwa praised the Apapa Strategic Command for uncovering the cocaine hidden within cargo and lauded the Directorate of Prosecution for diligent handling of the case.
He emphasized that the NDLEA is now targeting traffickers’ assets, not just seizures, to cripple operations.
“This judgment sends an unambiguous signal to every shipping line and sailor worldwide: if you turn your ships into floating warehouses for drugs, you will lose freedom and assets,” Marwa said.
He added that the agency’s intelligence networks and technology are expanding, ensuring continued vigilance against narcotics smuggling.
The conviction, coming after similar cases like the MV Chayanee Naree, marks a growing crackdown on drug trafficking in Nigeria’s ports and a step toward securing the nation’s youth and maritime borders.
