Nigeria – The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured the conviction of 10 Filipino sailors and a merchant vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, over the importation of 20 kilograms of cocaine through the Apapa seaport in Lagos.
The Federal High Court in Lagos delivered the judgment on Wednesday, imposing fines and restitution totaling $6 million, alongside an additional N1.1 million penalty on the convicts.
According to NDLEA spokesman Femi Babafemi, the vessel and its crew were arrested on November 16, 2025, after operatives intercepted the cocaine shipment concealed onboard. The vessel had departed from Santos, Brazil.
The agency subsequently filed a four-count charge before the Federal High Court, Lagos, through its Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Theresa Asuquo. The defendants pleaded guilty and entered into a plea bargain agreement.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ayokunle Faji found the vessel guilty under the NDLEA Act and ordered it to pay a N100,000 fine and $5.35 million in restitution to the Federal Government.
Three senior officers of the vessel were each fined N100,000 and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution, while the remaining seven crew members were fined N100,000 each and $50,000 in restitution apiece.
In total, the vessel and its crew are to pay $6 million and N1.1 million in fines and restitution.
Reacting to the ruling, NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), described the conviction as a major breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking. He said the judgment sends a clear message to international drug networks that Nigeria is no longer a safe route for illicit narcotics.
“The conviction is a resounding victory for the rule of law and a powerful testament to the renewed vigour of the NDLEA in our mission to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs,” he said.
Marwa added that the financial penalty would serve as a strong deterrent, noting that the agency is increasingly targeting the financial structures of drug trafficking syndicates.
He also commended officers of the Apapa Strategic Command for their role in uncovering the concealed drugs, as well as the judiciary for ensuring a swift trial.
“This synergy between the NDLEA and the courts is the nightmare of every drug baron, and we will continue to strengthen this partnership until every drug supply chain in Nigeria is dismantled,” he added.
The NDLEA boss reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to intensifying intelligence gathering and enforcement operations, stressing that tackling drug trafficking remains critical to national security and the protection of young people.
