The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos to detain a merchant vessel, its captain, and 20 other crew members following the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed aboard the ship at the Apapa seaport.
The order was granted in connection with the interception of the commodity vessel, MV San Antonio, which arrived in Nigeria from Brazil. NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence, discovered the cocaine consignment hidden in the vessel’s hatch on December 6, 2025.
Following the complete discharge of the ship’s cargo, a total of 21 crew members of various nationalities—including Russian, Filipino, Ukrainian, and Azerbaijani—were taken into NDLEA custody alongside the recovered drug exhibits.
The latest seizure comes barely weeks after a similar operation at the Apapa seaport, where NDLEA officers on November 16 intercepted another Brazil-bound commodity vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, from the port of Santos, with about 20 kilograms of cocaine concealed under its cargo.
Among those detained are the vessel’s master, Trofymov Oleksandr, and 20 other crew members, including Stoychev Sergiy, Bobrov Maksim, Stupnytsky Sergiy, Bitinev Aleksei, Novruzov Teymur, Sosnov Oleg, Bondar Ihor, Klymenko Oleh, Cala Michael De Jesus, Jamir Julfikhar Jacusalem, Blanco Cruz Veloso, Fajardo Ronnel Luntaao, Gumela Lolito Jr. Serojano, Toston Romulo Jr. Oling, Smirnov Viacheslav, Gorre Mar Kemmeth Tabudlong, Cruz John Vhoie Glavez, Sablan Jamille Alorro, Abesia Kelvin Belarmino, and Ubay Kenneth Biaoco.
In line with international legal procedures, the NDLEA on Friday, December 12, filed an ex-parte application before Justice Frida Nkemakonam Ogazi of the Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking an order to detain the vessel and its crew pending the conclusion of investigations and the filing of charges.
Ruling on the application, the court granted a 14-day detention order in the first instance. Justice Ogazi held that the vessel, MV San Antonio, should remain in NDLEA custody following the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine on December 6 at the Apapa seaport, pending the completion of investigations and possible prosecution. The matter was adjourned to December 29, 2025.
Reacting to the development, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), said the seizure further reinforces the agency’s resolve to deny international drug syndicates and their local collaborators any foothold in Nigeria.
Commending officers of the Apapa Strategic Command for what he described as back-to-back successful operations, Marwa said the development reflects the NDLEA’s strengthened operational capacity and unwavering determination to disrupt drug trafficking networks targeting Nigeria and the wider West African sub-region. He added that the agency would continue to work closely with local and international partners to enforce zero tolerance for illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse in the country.
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