The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has obtained a Federal High Court order in Lagos to detain a merchant vessel and its 21 crew members following the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine at the Apapa Seaport.
The order was granted by Justice Frida Nkemakonam Ogazi, authorising the detention of the vessel, MV San Antonio, its captain and crew for 14 days pending the conclusion of investigations and the filing of criminal charges.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the agency said the cocaine was discovered on December 6, 2025, during an intelligence-led operation shortly after the vessel arrived in Lagos from Brazil.
According to the NDLEA, the drugs were concealed inside the ship’s hatch and were recovered after the vessel had completed the discharge of its cargo. All 21 crew members nationals of Russia, the Philippines, Ukraine and Azerbaijan were taken into custody alongside the seized cocaine.
“The NDLEA has secured an order of the Federal High Court to detain the vessel, its captain and crew following the discovery of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine aboard the ship at Apapa Port,” the statement said.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), said the interception underscored the agency’s resolve to prevent Nigeria from being used as a transit or destination for illicit drugs.
He added that the operation reflected strengthened intelligence capabilities and warned international drug cartels and their local collaborators that enforcement agencies would continue to dismantle trafficking networks targeting Nigeria and the wider West African region.
The NDLEA disclosed that the seizure followed a similar interception in November 2025, when about 20 kilograms of cocaine were recovered from another Brazil-linked vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, also at Apapa Port.
Court documents showed that the NDLEA filed an ex parte application on December 12, 2025, seeking judicial authorisation to detain the vessel and crew in line with international maritime and legal procedures. The court adjourned the matter to December 29, 2025.
Investigations are ongoing to determine individual culpability, while the NDLEA said it would continue working with local and international partners to strengthen port surveillance and enforce zero tolerance for drug trafficking.
