A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the detention of a commodity vessel, MV San Antonio, along with its captain and 20 other crew members, following the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine at the Apapa Seaport, Lagos.
The order was granted after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) discovered the illicit drug concealed in the hatch of the vessel, which had arrived from Brazil. NDLEA operatives, acting on credible intelligence, uncovered the cocaine consignment on December 6, 2025.
Following the complete discharge of cargo from the ship, a total of 21 crew members of different nationalities, including Russians, Filipinos, Ukrainians and an Azerbaijani, were taken into NDLEA custody alongside the seized drugs.
The latest interception comes barely weeks after NDLEA officers uncovered another cocaine shipment aboard MV Nord Bosporus, a commodity-laden vessel that arrived from the port of Santos, Brazil. That seizure, which occurred on November 16, 2025, involved no fewer than 20 kilograms of cocaine concealed under the ship’s cargo at the Apapa Seaport.
Among those detained in connection with the latest seizure are the vessel’s master, Trofymov Oleksandr, and other crew members identified as 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 protocols, the NDLEA on December 12, 2025, filed an ex parte application in Suit No. FHC/L/MISC/1408/2025 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, Justice Ogazi ordered the continued detention of MV San Antonio for an initial period of 14 days following the seizure of the cocaine at the Apapa Seaport.
The court held that the detention would subsist pending the conclusion of investigations and/or the filing of criminal charges. The matter was adjourned to December 29, 2025.
Reacting to the development, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), said the seizure reinforced the agency’s resolve to deny international drug cartels and their local collaborators any foothold in Nigeria.
He commended officers of the Apapa Strategic Command for what he described as back-to-back successful operations, noting that the seizures reflected the NDLEA’s enhanced operational capacity and determination to disrupt drug syndicates targeting Nigeria and the wider West African sub-region. Marwa added that the agency would continue to work closely with local and international partners to ensure zero tolerance for illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse in the country.
