By Nkechi Eze
A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 10 Filipino sailors and a merchant vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, over the trafficking of 20 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria, imposing a total fine of $6 million and an additional N1.1 million penalty.
The sailors and the vessel were arrested on November 16, 2025, by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Apapa seaport in Lagos after the illicit drug consignment was discovered onboard the ship, which arrived from Santos, Brazil.
Following their arrest, the NDLEA filed a four-count charge against the defendants at the Federal High Court 2, Lagos, in suit number FHC/L/1232C/25. The prosecution was led by the agency’s Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Theresa Asuquo.
The defendants—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—pleaded guilty and entered into a plea bargain agreement.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Justice Ayokunle Faji found the vessel guilty under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act and ordered it to pay a N100,000 penalty as well as $5.35 million in restitution to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The court also convicted the three principal officers of the vessel, sentencing each to a N100,000 fine and $100,000 restitution, while the remaining crew members were ordered to pay N100,000 each and $50,000 in restitution.
The cumulative penalties bring the total financial sanctions against the vessel and its crew to $6 million and N1.1 million.
Reacting to the judgment, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, described the outcome as a significant victory in the fight against drug trafficking.
“This is a resounding victory for the rule of law and a powerful testament to the renewed vigour of the NDLEA in our mission to rid Nigeria of illicit drugs,” he said.
Marwa added that the ruling sends a strong warning to international drug cartels and their collaborators. “The imposition of a $6 million fine serves as a stark lesson that Nigeria’s territorial waters are no longer a playground for the illicit narcotics trade,” he stated.
He further warned that vessels used for drug trafficking would face severe consequences. “If you turn your ships into floating warehouses for illicit drugs, you will not only lose your freedom but also your assets. We are now hitting the syndicates where it hurts most—their pockets and operational assets,” he said.
The NDLEA boss commended officers of the Apapa Strategic Command for their vigilance in uncovering the concealed cocaine shipment and praised the agency’s prosecution team for securing the conviction.
He also acknowledged the role of the judiciary in ensuring a speedy trial, noting that collaboration between the courts and the NDLEA remains critical in dismantling drug trafficking networks.
Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to intensifying its crackdown on illicit drug operations, stressing that the fight is aimed at protecting Nigeria’s youth and safeguarding national security.
