NDLEA foils cocaine smuggling attempt at Lagos Port, holds 20 crew members for investigation

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has uncovered a major drug trafficking attempt at the Apapa seaport in Lagos after intercepting a vessel from Brazil carrying 20 kilograms of cocaine concealed within its cargo. Twenty Filipino crew members aboard the ship have been detained as part of an ongoing investigation.

The vessel, identified as MV Nord Bosporus, sailed into the country from Santos, Brazil, before NDLEA operatives conducted a thorough inspection that led to the discovery of the illicit substance. The drugs were found hidden beneath legitimate cargo during a coordinated search operation.

According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the agency immediately arrested the ship’s master and all 19 other crew members to allow investigators determine their level of involvement in the trafficking attempt.

To secure the suspects and preserve evidence, the NDLEA approached the Federal High Court in Lagos and obtained a 14-day detention order covering the vessel and the entire crew. The order, granted by Justice Musa Kakaki, allows investigators additional time to trace the source of the drugs and identify the network behind the shipment.

Preliminary findings indicate that the ship had not previously docked in Nigeria or any other African port, raising questions about how the cocaine was loaded and its intended destination. The NDLEA has begun a deeper probe into the vessel’s movements and possible connections to international drug cartels.

NDLEA Chairman Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) commended the officers involved in the operation, describing the interception as further proof of the agency’s strengthened surveillance at Nigeria’s seaports. He warned that Nigeria will not serve as a transit point for foreign syndicates and vowed that anyone aiding such activities,whether local or foreign will face stiff penalties.

The latest seizure follows a series of similar incidents this year, underscoring Nigeria’s growing role in the global anti-narcotics fight. In May, a Federal High Court convicted 10 Thai sailors for bringing more than 32 kilograms of cocaine into the country through the same Apapa port.

The NDLEA says investigations are ongoing, and additional arrests may be made as more details emerge about the trafficking network behind the intercepted shipment.