Court Fines Ship and Sailors $6M for Cocaine Trafficking

On March 18, 2026, Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced the merchant vessel MV Nord Bosporus and ten Filipino sailors to a total fine of $6 million for trafficking 20 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria. The case stemmed from the crew's arrest by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at Apapa Seaport on November 16, 2025.

Following investigations, it was revealed that the cocaine shipment originated from Santo, Brazil. The sailors entered a plea bargain agreement, pleading guilty to the charges.

The court ordered a penalty of N100,000 and restitution of $5.35 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria, with the three principal officers of the ship fined N100,000 each. The NDLEA Chairman, Buba Marwa, described the ruling as a significant breakthrough in the fight against drug trafficking, emphasizing that Nigeria's waters are no longer safe for illicit drug operations.