Nigerian Court Convicts Filipino Sailors and Vessel, Imposes $6 Million Fine for Cocaine Import
A Federal High Court in Lagos has delivered a landmark judgment, convicting 10 Filipino sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, for importing 20 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria. The court imposed a total fine of Six Million US Dollars ($6 million) and an additional penalty of One Million One Hundred Thousand Naira (N1.1 million) on the defendants.
Arrest and Seizure at Apapa Seaport
The case originated on November 16, 2025, when operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted the cocaine consignment aboard the MV Nord Bosporus at the Apapa seaport in Lagos. The illicit drugs were concealed within the cargo of the massive commodity vessel, which had arrived from Santos, Brazil.
Following the seizure, the NDLEA arrested the vessel and its crew members. The agency subsequently filed a four-count criminal charge against them in suit number FHC/L/1232C/25 at the Federal High Court 2 in Lagos. The prosecution team was led by the NDLEA's Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Theresa Asuquo.
Guilty Plea and Plea Bargain Agreement
The defendants, comprising the vessel and the 10 Filipino sailors, opted to plead guilty and entered into a plea bargain agreement. The sailors involved in the case are Eugene Quinos Corpuz, Mark Joseph Jardiniano, Alexis Navidad Evarrola, Francis Gerard Niones Carpio, Franz Jude Mayran, Mahinay Junniel Lagura, Mario Ganiban Malvar, Hormachuelos Lordito Guivencan, Joshua Emmanuel Hufanda, and Edwin Baltazar Reyes.
On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court 2 Lagos delivered his ruling on the plea bargain. The judge found the MV Nord Bosporus guilty of an offence under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act.
Court Ruling and Financial Penalties
Justice Faji ordered the vessel to pay a penalty of N100,000 and make a restitution of Five Million Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand US Dollars to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The three principal officers of the vessel, identified as the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants, were each convicted and sentenced to pay N100,000 and a restitution of $100,000.
The remaining seven sailors, listed as the 5th to 11th defendants, were also convicted and sentenced to pay N100,000 each, along with a restitution of $50,000 each. Cumulatively, these penalties amount to a total fine of $6 million and N1.1 million to be paid to the Federal Government of Nigeria as restitution and penalty, respectively.
NDLEA's Reaction and Strategic Impact
Reacting to the judgment, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retired), hailed the conviction as a significant victory for the rule of law. He emphasized that it underscores the agency's renewed vigor in combating illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
Marwa stated, "The imposition of a $6 million fine serves as a stark, expensive lesson to international drug cartels and their local collaborators that Nigeria's territorial waters are no longer a playground for the illicit narcotics trade." He further warned that shipping lines, vessel owners, and sailors involved in drug trafficking would face severe consequences, including asset forfeiture.
The NDLEA chief commended the officers of the Apapa Strategic Command for their vigilance in detecting the concealed cocaine. He noted that this success, following similar convictions like that of the MV Chayanee Naree, demonstrates the effectiveness of the agency's 'back-to-back' strategy in disrupting drug supply chains.
Marwa also expressed gratitude to the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services for their diligent prosecution and acknowledged the judiciary for the accelerated hearing of the case. He affirmed the agency's unwavering resolve, stating, "We are not just fighting a crime; we are defending the future of our youth and the security of our nation." He highlighted that the NDLEA's intelligence networks are expanding, technology is becoming sharper, and their determination remains unbreakable in the fight against drug trafficking.
