Federal High Court in Lagos convicts 10 Filipino sailors and fines vessel $6m over cocaine importation into Nigeria
A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 10 Filipino sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, over the importation of 20 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria, imposing fines and restitution totalling $6 million and ₦1.1 million.
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The arrests were carried out on November 16, 2025, at Apapa seaport by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), according to a statement signed by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.
The case, filed under suit number FHC/L/1232C/25, was prosecuted by a team led by the NDLEA’s Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Theresa Asuquo.
The defendants pleaded guilty under a plea bargain arrangement.
Delivering judgment, Justice Ayokunle Faji found the vessel guilty under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act.
The court ordered the vessel to pay ₦100,000 as penalty and $5.35 million as restitution to the Federal Government.
The three principal officers among the crew were each fined ₦100,000 and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution, while the remaining crew members were fined ₦100,000 each with an additional $50,000 restitution.
Reacting to the ruling, NDLEA Chairman, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the judgment as a major victory against drug trafficking.
He said the $6 million penalty sends a strong warning to international drug cartels, adding that Nigeria’s waters will no longer serve as a route for illicit narcotics.
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Marwa also commended the NDLEA Apapa Command, prosecutors, and the judiciary for their roles in ensuring swift justice, noting that the agency will continue to intensify efforts to dismantle drug supply networks.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
