The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos permitting the detention of a merchant vessel, its captain, and 20 other crew members following the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in the hatch of a ship at the Apapa seaport, Lagos.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Femi Babafemi, spokesperson of the NDLEA, the commodity vessel, MV San Antonio, arrived in Nigeria from Brazil before operatives of the agency, acting on credible intelligence, uncovered the cocaine consignment on December 6, 2025.
Babafemi said that after the vessel completed the discharge of its cargo, all 21 crew members of various nationalities—including Russians, Filipinos, Ukrainians, and Azerbaijanis—were taken into custody alongside the seized drugs.
Those detained include the vessel’s master, Trofymov Oleksandr, as well as Stoychev Sergiy, Bobrov Maksim, Stupnytsky Sergiy, Bitinev Aleksei, Novruzov Teymur, Sosnov Oleg, Bondar Ihor, Klymenko Oleh, and Cala Michael De Jesus.
Others are 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 December 12, 2025, filed an ex-parte application in suit number 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.
“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 in the first instance following the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine aboard the said vessel on December 6, 2025, at Apapa seaport, Lagos, pending the conclusion of investigation and or filing of criminal charge and prosecution,” the application read.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to December 29, 2025.
Reacting to the development, the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), said the seizure reinforced the agency’s earlier warning to international drug cartels and their local collaborators.
“We remain resolute to frustrate the drug syndicates targeting the West African sub-region, especially Nigeria. This latest interception has once again confirmed that drug cartels will never get a foothold in the country,” Marwa said.
He commended officers of the Apapa Strategic Command of the agency for what he described as back-to-back successful operations.
“This is no doubt a testament to NDLEA’s heightened capacity and unwavering resolve in the fight against illicit drug trafficking. We will continue to collaborate with our local and international partners to ensure zero tolerance for substance abuse and drug trafficking in Nigeria,” he added.