A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 10 Filipino sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, for the illegal importation of 20 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria.
In a landmark ruling delivered on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, the court imposed a total fine of $6 million (USD) and an additional penalty of N1.1 million against the defendants.
The conviction follows a coordinated operation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on November 16, 2025, during which officers intercepted the cocaine shipment arriving from Santos, Brazil, at the Apapa seaport.
The crew and the vessel were subsequently charged in suit number FHC/L/1232C/25.
Following a plea bargain agreement, all defendants pleaded guilty to the four-count criminal charge filed by the NDLEA’s prosecution team, led by Theresa Asuquo.
Presiding Judge, Justice Ayokunle Faji, found the vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, guilty of an offense under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act.
The court ordered the vessel to pay a N100,000 penalty and a restitution sum of $5.35 million to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The individual crew members also faced significant financial penalties. The three principal officers of the vessel were ordered to pay N100,000 each and a restitution of $100,000 each. The remaining seven defendants were sentenced to pay N100,000 each along with a restitution fee of $50,000 each.
Combined, the financial obligations to the Federal Government total $6 million in restitution and N1.1 million in penalties.
Reacting to the judgment, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), described the ruling as a resounding victory for the rule of law.
“The imposition of a $6 million fine serves as a stark, expensive lesson to international drug cartels. Nigeria’s territorial waters are no longer a playground for the illicit narcotics trade. This judgment is an unambiguous signal to every shipping line and sailor worldwide: if you turn your ships into floating warehouses for illicit drugs, you will lose both your freedom and your assets,” Marwa stated.
Marwa further commended the officers of the Apapa Strategic Command for their vigilance in uncovering the narcotics hidden deep within the vessel’s cargo.
He also praised the judiciary for the accelerated hearing of the case, noting that the synergy between the NDLEA and the courts is essential for dismantling drug supply chains in Nigeria.
The NDLEA Chairman reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to defending the nation’s security, stating that intelligence networks are expanding and technology is being sharpened to ensure that drug syndicates are hit where it hurts most their pockets and operational assets.