By Charles Pemu 
The Federal High Court in Lagos has authorized the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to detain a merchant vessel, MV San Antonio, along with its captain and 20 crew members. The order follows the discovery of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine at the Apapa seaport, marking the second major maritime drug interception by the agency in less than a month.
Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives discovered the illicit shipment concealed within the hatch of the vessel shortly after it arrived from Brazil on December 6, 2025. Following the full discharge of the ship’s cargo, the agency took into custody the vessel’s master, Trofymov Oleksandr, and 20 other crew members of various nationalities.
In accordance with international legal protocols, the NDLEA filed an ex parte application on December 12 before Justice Frida Nkemakonam Ogazi. The agency sought judicial approval to hold the vessel and its crew pending the conclusion of an extensive investigation and the formal filing of criminal charges.
Justice Ogazi granted the application, extending the detention of the MV San Antonio and the 21 suspects for an initial period of 14 days. The court has adjourned the matter until December 29, 2025, by which time the NDLEA is expected to provide further updates on the investigation or proceed with prosecution.
This latest seizure highlights a concerning pattern of narcotics being smuggled into Nigeria from South American ports. Just weeks earlier, on November 16, NDLEA officers at the same port intercepted the MV Nord Bosporus, which had arrived from Santos, Brazil, carrying approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine hidden beneath its cargo.
Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, stated that these consecutive successes reaffirm the agency’s unwavering stance against international drug syndicates. He praised the officers of the Apapa Strategic Command for their vigilance and emphasized that the agency would continue to leverage partnerships with local and international stakeholders to disrupt illicit trafficking networks using Nigerian seaports as transit points.
The names of the detained crew members, which include individuals from diverse global backgrounds, have been documented as part of the ongoing case file. The agency remains committed to a thorough investigation to determine the ultimate destination and local collaborators involved in the 25.5-kilogram shipment.