Court Grants NDLEA Order to Detain Vessel, 21-Crew Member Over 25.5kg Brazil Cocaine Bust

A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) permission to detain a cargo ship and its 21-man crew, including the captain.

This legal action stems from the seizure of 25.5kg of cocaine found in the vessel’s hatch after it arrived at the Apapa seaport from Brazil.

According to a statement released on Wednesday, December 17, by Mr. Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, operatives of the agency, acting on credible intelligence, had on December 6 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.

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 November 16 at the Apapa seaport Lagos.

The statement given to Persecondnews reads: “Suspects taken into custody along with the latest seized cocaine consignment include the Master of the vessel, Trofymov Oleksandr; and other crew members namely: Stoychev Sergiy; Bobrov Maksim; Stupnytsky Sergiy; Bitinev Aleksei; and Novruzov Teymur.

“Also among them are Sosnov Oleg; Bondar Ihor; Klymenko Oleh; Cala Michael De Jesus; Jamir Julfikhar Jacusalem; Blanco Crus Veloso; Fajardo Ronnel Luntaao; Gumela Lolito Jr. Serojano; and Toston Romulo Jr. Oling.

“Equally on the list are 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, December 12 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 14 in the first instance following the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine aboard the said Vessel on December 6 at Apapa seaport, Lagos, pending the conclusion of investigation and or filing of criminal charge and prosecution.”

The court thereafter adjourned the case until December 29.

Reacting, the NDLEA Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa said the latest seizure reinforces his earlier warning to international drug cartels and their local collaborators that they will never get a foothold in Nigeria.

While commending the officers of the Apapa Strategic Command of the Agency for the back-to-back successful operations, he said:“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.”

Marwa said the agency will continue to collaborate with local and international partners to ensure zero tolerance for substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.