A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an order for the detention of a merchant vessel, its captain and 20 other crew members following the discovery of 25.5 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Apapa Seaport.
The order was secured by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after its operatives, acting on intelligence, uncovered the illicit drugs hidden inside the hatch of the cargo vessel, MV San Antonio, which arrived from Brazil on December 6, 2025.
Following the discharge of the vessel’s cargo, 21 crew members of various nationalities were arrested along with the seized cocaine. Those detained include the ship’s master, Trofymov Oleksandr, and other crew members: 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.
The seizure came weeks after a similar interception on November 16, when NDLEA officers stopped another vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, also from Santos, Brazil, with about 20 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed beneath its cargo at the same port.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the agency filed an ex parte application before the Federal High Court in line with international legal procedures, seeking the detention of the vessel and its crew pending the conclusion of investigations and the filing of charges.
Babafemi explained that the application, filed on December 12 in suit number FHC/L/MISC/1408/2025 before Justice Frida Nkemakonam Ogazi, requested an order to detain MV San Antonio and the 21 crew members.
Ruling on the application, the court ordered the continued detention of the vessel and its crew for an initial period of 14 days.
The judge held that the vessel and crew should remain in custody pending the completion of investigations and possible prosecution following the seizure of the cocaine at the Apapa Seaport.
The case was adjourned to December 29, 2025.
Reacting to the ruling, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), said the operation underscored the agency’s determination to dismantle international drug trafficking syndicates.
He praised officers of the Apapa Strategic Command for their efforts and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with local and international partners to combat illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
