NDLEA moves against drug trafficking, detains vessel, 21 crew over Brazil cocaine haul

By Stanley Ihedigbo

National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has obtained a court order to detain a commodity vessel, its captain and 20 crew members over the discovery of 25.5 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Apapa Seaport, Lagos.

According to the Director of Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, operatives of the agency, acting on credible intelligence, on December 6, 2025, discovered the cocaine consignment aboard the merchant vessel, MV San Antonio, which arrived from Brazil. After the full discharge of the cargo, a total of 21 crew members of diverse nationalities, including Russian, Philippine, Ukrainian and Azerbaijani, were taken into NDLEA custody along with the drug exhibits.

This development comes on the heels of a similar interception by NDLEA officers of another commodity-laden vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, from the Port of Santos, Brazil, with no fewer than 20 kilogrammes of the Class A drug concealed under its cargo on November 16, 2025, 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 Cruz 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 Friday, December 12, filed an ex parte application in Suit No. FHC/L/MISC/1408/2025 before Justice Frida Nkemakonam Ogazi of the Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking the detention of the vessel and the 21 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 (14) days in the first instance, following the seizure of 25.5 kilogrammes of cocaine aboard the said vessel on December 6, 2025, at the Apapa Seaport, Lagos, pending the conclusion of investigation and/or the filing of criminal charges and prosecution.” The court thereafter adjourned the matter to December 29, 2025.

Reacting to the development, the 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 local collaborators that they would never gain a foothold in Nigeria.

While commending 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 drug syndicates targeting the West African sub-region, especially Nigeria.”

He added that the agency would continue to collaborate with local and international partners to ensure zero tolerance for substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.