Thursday, December 18, 2025 - The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured 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 in the hatch of the commodity vessel from Brazil at the Apapa seaport in Lagos by the agency’s operatives.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja,
Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement yesterday.
Babafemi said operatives of the agency had on December 6,
2025 discovered the cocaine consignment aboard the merchant vessel MV San
Anthonio from Brazil.
He said after the discharge of cargo from the ship, a total
of 21 crew members of diverse nationalities, including Russia, Philippines,
Ukraine and Azerbaijan, were arrested along with 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 on 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, Lagosgos for
the detention of the ship and crew members pending when charges would 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
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 get
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 collaborate with its
partners to ensure zero tolerance for substance abuse and illicit drug
trafficking in the country.
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