The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has obtained an order of a Federal High Court in Lagos to detain a ship, its captain and 20 other crew members, following the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine found in the hatch of a commodity vessel from Brazil at the Apapa seaport in Lagos by the agency’s operatives.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement yesterday.
Babafemi said operatives of the agency on December 6, 2025 uncovered the cocaine consignment onboard the merchant vessel MV San Anthonio from Brazil.
He said after the offloading of cargo from the ship, a total of 21 crew members of different nationalities, including Russia, Philippines, Ukraine and Azerbaijan, were arrested alongside the 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.”
“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; 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 said.
He said in line with international legal protocols, the NDLEA last Friday filed an ex-parte application in suit FHC/L/MISC/1408/2025 before Justice Frida Nkemakonam Ogazi of the Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking the detention of the ship and crew members pending the filing of charges 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 fourteen days (14) 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 court thereafter adjourned the matter to December 29, 2025.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig.- Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) said the latest seizure reinforces his earlier warning to international drug cartels and their collaborators that they would never gain a foothold in Nigeria.
Marwa added: “This is, no doubt, a testament to NDLEA’s heightened capacity and resolve to frustrate the drug syndicates targeting the West African sub-region, especially Nigeria.”
He said the agency will continue to work with its partners to ensure zero tolerance for substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.
