The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured an order of a Federal High Court in Lagos to detain a ship, its captain and 20 other crew members following the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine in the hatch of the commodity vessel from Brazil at the Apapa seaport in Lagos by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Operatives of the NDLEA acting on credible intelligence, on 6th December 2025, discovered the cocaine consignment aboard the merchant vessel MV San Anthonio from Brazil.
After the full discharge of cargo from the ship, a total of 21 crew members of diverse nationalities including Russia, Phillipines, Ukraine and Azerbaijan were taken into NDLEA custody along with the drug exhibits.
The suspects were taken into custody along with the latest seized cocaine consignment.
They include: The Master of the vessel, Trofymov Oleksandr; as well as other crew members namely:
Stoychev Sergiy; Bobrov Maksim; Stupnytsky Sergiy; Bitinev Aleksei; Novruzov Teymur; Sosnov Oleg; Bondar Ihor; Klymenko Oleh; Cala Michael De Jesus; Jamir Julfikhar Jacusalem; Blanco Crus 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 Friday 12th December filed an ex-parte application in suit FHC/L/MISC/1408/2025 before Justice Frida Nkemakonam Ogazi of the Federal High Court, Lagos, for the detention of the ship and the 21 crew members pending when charges will be filed against them.
Ruling on the application, the judge said, “An order of court is hereby made extending the detention of the Vessel MV San Antonio being investigated by the Applicant, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for fourteen days (14) in the first instance following the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine aboard the said Vessel on 6th December, 2025 at Apapa seaport, Lagos, pending the conclusion of investigation and or filing of criminal charge and prosecution.”
The court, thereafter, adjourned the matter to 29th December 2025.
Recall that NDLEA officials on 16th November, at the Apapa seaport, Lagos, intercepted another commodity laden vessel- MV Nord Bosporus from the port of Santos in Brazil with no less than 20 kilograms of the Class A drug buried under its cargo.
In his reaction to the development, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) said the latest seizure reinforced his earlier warning to international drug cartels and their local collaborators that they will never get a foothold in Nigeria.
He commended the officers of the Apapa Strategic Command of the Agency for the back-to-back successful operations, “this is no doubt a testament to NDLEA’s heightened capacity and unwavering resolve to frustrate the drug syndicates targeting the West African sub-region especially Nigeria.”
He restated the Agency’s readiness to continue to collaborate with local and international partners to ensure zero tolerance for substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.
