A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the detention of a merchant vessel, its captain, and 20 other crew members following the seizure of 25.5 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Apapa Seaport.
The order followed an application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after its operatives uncovered the illicit drugs aboard the commodity vessel, MV San Antonio, which arrived from Brazil on December 6, 2025. The cocaine was reportedly concealed inside the vessel’s hatch.
After the cargo was fully discharged, NDLEA operatives arrested 21 crew members of various nationalities, including the vessel’s master, Trofymov Oleksandr, alongside other officers and sailors on board.
The agency disclosed that the operation was intelligence-driven and formed part of ongoing efforts to curb international drug trafficking through Nigerian ports. It also recalled an earlier interception at the Apapa Seaport on November 16, when another vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, arriving from Santos, Brazil, was found with about 20 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden beneath its cargo.
In a statement issued on Thursday, NDLEA spokesperson, Mr Femi Babafemi, said the agency approached the court through an ex parte application, in line with international legal procedures, seeking the detention of the vessel and its crew pending the conclusion of investigations.
According to him, the application, filed on December 12, 2025, 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.
Granting the application, the court ordered the continued detention of the vessel and its crew for an initial period of 14 days.
In her ruling, Justice Ogazi held that the detention would subsist pending the conclusion of investigations and the possible filing of criminal charges by the NDLEA. The matter was adjourned to December 29, 2025, for further proceedings.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), described the seizure as a major breakthrough in the agency’s fight against transnational drug trafficking.
He commended officers of the Apapa Strategic Command for their vigilance and professionalism, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to working with local and international partners to disrupt illicit drug supply chains and safeguard Nigeria’s borders.
