20kg Cocaine Smuggling: Court Convicts 10 Filipino Sailors, Vessel, Imposes $6m Fine
Oru Leonard
A Federal High Court in Lagos, Nigeria has convicted 10 Filipino sailors and a merchant vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, over the trafficking of 20 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria, handing down fines and restitution totalling $6 million alongside additional penalties of N1.1 million.
The judgement, delivered on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, followed the interception of the illicit consignment by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Apapa Seaport in Lagos in November 2025.
The vessel and its crew were apprehended after NDLEA officers uncovered the cocaine concealed within cargo aboard the ship, which had arrived from Santos, Brazil. Prosecutors subsequently filed a four-count charge at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
During proceedings, the defendants opted for a plea bargain, admitting guilt to the charges
In his ruling, Justice Ayokunle Faji found the vessel guilty under the NDLEA Act and ordered it to pay a penalty of N100,000 and restitution amounting to $5.35 million to the Federal Government.
Three senior crew members were each fined N100,000 and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution, while the remaining crew members were directed to pay N100,000 each and $50,000 in restitution.
The cumulative financial penalty imposed on the vessel and its crew amounts to $6 million and N1.1 million.
Reacting to the judgement, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), described the outcome as a major breakthrough in the agency’s fight against drug trafficking.
He said the ruling sends a strong warning to international drug syndicates, stressing that Nigeria’s waters can no longer be exploited for narcotics trade.
Marwa added that the agency is intensifying efforts to go beyond seizures by targeting the financial networks and assets of criminal organisations.
He commended officers of the Apapa Strategic Command for their vigilance and praised the agency’s prosecution team for securing the conviction, noting that increased collaboration with the judiciary is strengthening the fight against drug-related crimes.gb
According to him, the NDLEA remains committed to expanding its intelligence capabilities and deploying advanced tools to dismantle drug supply chains, while safeguarding the country’s youth and national security.
NDLEA Media
