20kg Cocaine Trafficking: Nigeria Court Slams $6M Fine On Filipino Crew, Ship Over Major Cocaine Bust Victory

In a landmark ruling, a Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 10 Filipino sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, for trafficking 20kg of cocaine into Nigeria via Apapa seaport.

The court imposed a total fine of $6 million USD and N1.1 million NGN in penalties and restitution, signaling zero tolerance for drug cartels in Nigerian waters.

The crew—Eugene Quinos Corpuz, Mark Joseph Jardiniano, Alexis Navidad Evarolla, Francis Gerard Niones Carpio, Franz Jude Mayran, Mahinay Junniel Lagura, Mario Ganiban Malvar, Hormachuelos Lordito Guivencan, Joshua Emmanuel Hufanda, and Edwin Baltazar Reyes—were arrested by NDLEA operatives on November 16, 2025, after the cocaine was discovered hidden in the ship’s cargo from Santos, Brazil.

Facing a four-count charge under suit FHC/L/1232C/25, they pleaded guilty via a plea bargain.

Justice Ayokunle Faji ruled the vessel guilty under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act, ordering it to pay N100,000 plus $5.35 million in restitution.

The three principal officers each face N100,000 and $100,000 restitution, while the other seven crew members owe N100,000 and $50,000 each—totaling the $6 million and N1.1 million.

NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) hailed the verdict as “a resounding victory for the rule of law,” adding that the hefty fine is “a stark lesson to drug cartels:

According to a statement on Wednesday,Marwa was quoted saying, “Nigeria’s territorial waters are no longer a playground.”

He further praised the Apapa command’s vigilance, the prosecution team led by Director Theresa Asuquo, and the judiciary’s swift action, vowing to dismantle drug networks through intelligence, technology, and unbreakable resolve to protect Nigeria’s youth and security.

This , he said follows recent convictions like MV Chayanee Naree, underscoring NDLEA’s aggressive “back-to-back” strategy.