Source: Africa Publicity
Operatives of Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized a ship from Brazil alleged to have transported about 20 kilograms of cocaine to Nigeria.
The interception of the Brazilian cocaine ship comes about six months after 10 Thai sailors and their vessel were convicted and ordered to pay a $4.3 million fine for importing 32.9kg of cocaine into Nigeria.
The Brazilian vessel, MV Nord Bosporus with identification number 9760110, arrived from the port of Santos in Brazil and docked at the Apapa seaport in Lagos carrying at least 20 kilograms of cocaine concealed beneath its cargo.
NDLEA officers uncovered the illicit consignment on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
After the discovery, the ship’s Master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, and the 19 other crew members—all Filipino nationals—were taken into custody for questioning.
After the arrests, NDLEA sought a court order to detain both the vessel and the 20 crew members to allow for continued investigation. The ex-parte application, filed under suit number FHC/L/MISC/1306/25, was presented before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
On Thursday, November 20, 2025, the judge approved an initial 14-day detention for the MV Nord Bosporus, Captain Corpus, and the 19 Filipino crew members.
Meanwhile, preliminary findings, according to NDLEA, show that this was the vessel’s first visit to Nigeria and Africa.
Prior to this voyage, it had primarily transported coal between Colombia and Brazil, and Captain Corpus had been with the ship for only about three months.
