Cocaine from Brazil: NDLEA detains Ship, Captain, 20 Crew

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured a Federal High Court order in Lagos authorising the continued detention of a Brazilian-bound commodity vessel, its captain and 20 other crew members over the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine at the Apapa seaport.

The vessel, MV San Antonio, arrived from Brazil and was placed under surveillance following what the agency described as credible intelligence.

NDLEA operatives discovered the concealed cocaine in the ship’s hatch on December 6, 2025, after which the cargo was fully discharged and the entire crew taken into custody for investigation.

Those detained comprise 21 crew members of different nationalities, including Russians, Filipinos, Ukrainians and an Azerbaijani.

Among the suspects is the vessel’s master, Trofymov Oleksandr, alongside other crew members identified as 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.

In line with international maritime and legal protocols, the NDLEA on Friday, December 12, filed an ex-parte application before Justice Frida Nkemakonam Ogazi of the Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking an order to detain the vessel and its crew pending the conclusion of investigations and the filing of formal charges.

Granting the application in suit number FHC/L/MISC/1408/2025, Justice Ogazi ordered that the vessel and crew remain in NDLEA custody for an initial period of 14 days.

The court held that the detention would subsist pending the conclusion of investigations or the commencement of criminal prosecution arising from the seizure of the cocaine aboard the vessel on December 6 at the Apapa port. The matter was adjourned to December 29, 2025.

The latest interception comes barely weeks after NDLEA operatives uncovered another cocaine shipment aboard MV Nord Bosporus, also from the port of Santos in Brazil.

That vessel was intercepted on November 16 at the Apapa seaport with no fewer than 20 kilograms of cocaine concealed beneath its cargo, underscoring what the agency described as a sustained attempt by international drug cartels to use maritime routes into Nigeria.

Reacting to the court order, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd), said the seizure further validated the agency’s resolve to deny drug syndicates any operational space in Nigeria.

He noted that the repeated interceptions of cocaine-laden vessels from Brazil sent a clear signal to international traffickers and their local collaborators.

Marwa commended officers of the NDLEA Apapa Strategic Command for what he described as back-to-back successes, attributing the breakthroughs to improved intelligence, operational capacity and inter-agency cooperation.

He said the agency would continue to work closely with local and international partners to maintain zero tolerance for illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse in Nigeria.

The NDLEA has consistently warned that it is intensifying surveillance of Nigeria’s ports and maritime corridors as part of a broader strategy to dismantle transnational drug networks targeting the country and the wider West African sub-region.