The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has secured a Federal High Court order in Lagos authorising the detention of a merchant ship, its captain and 20 other crew members after 25.5 kilograms of cocaine were intercepted at the Apapa seaport.
The development was confirmed on Wednesday in a statement issued by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi. He disclosed that the agency acted on credible intelligence to uncover the illicit drugs hidden inside the hatch of a commodity vessel, MV San Anthonio, which arrived in Nigeria from Brazil on December 6, 2025.
Babafemi explained that after the ship’s cargo was completely offloaded, NDLEA operatives took 21 crew members of different nationalities into custody alongside the recovered cocaine. According to him, the operation followed a similar seizure weeks earlier involving another Brazil-bound vessel.
“This is coming on the heels of a similar interception by NDLEA officers of 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 on 16th November at the Apapa seaport Lagos,” Babafemi said.
Those arrested include the vessel’s master, Trofymov Oleksandr, along with 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.
Babafemi stated that, in line with international maritime and legal procedures, the NDLEA on December 12 filed an ex-parte motion before Justice Frida Nkemakonam Ogazi of the Federal High Court in Lagos. The application, filed under suit number FHC/L/MISC/1408/2025, sought approval to detain both the vessel and its crew while investigations continue and charges are prepared.
Granting the request, the court ruled that “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 matter was subsequently adjourned to December 29, 2025.
Reacting to the seizure, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), said the operation further validates his long-standing warning to international drug syndicates and their local partners that Nigeria will not serve as a safe route for narcotics trafficking.
What you should know
The Apapa seaport has remained a major focus of Nigeria’s anti-drug enforcement efforts due to repeated attempts by international drug cartels to smuggle cocaine and other hard drugs into the country through maritime routes.
Brazil has consistently featured as a source country in several high-profile seizures. The NDLEA often relies on intelligence sharing and court-backed detention orders to hold vessels and crew members while investigations are concluded.
These measures are part of broader efforts to deter organised drug trafficking networks from exploiting Nigeria’s ports and territorial waters.
