NDLEA Secures Court Order Extending Detention of Ship, Crew Involved in Cocaine Smuggling from Brazil

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has secured a court order extending the detention of a ship and its twenty-one crew for the smuggling of cocaine from Brazil to Nigeria. This comes eleven days after the NDLEA impounded the ‘MV San Anthonio’ at the Apapa seaport in Lagos for smuggling of twenty-five-point-five kilograms of cocaine from Brazil. Justice FRIDA NKEMAKONAM OGAZI granted the order following an ex-parte application filed by the NDLEA on December 12, pending when charges will be filed against them. NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, FEMI BABAFEMI, said operatives discovered the cocaine consignment aboard the merchant vessel after the cargo was fully discharged. BABEFEMI also disclosed that the detained crew members comprise of Russians, Filipinos, Ukrainians and Azerbaijanians.  Recall that the NDLEA had earlier on November 16 also impounded another vessel – ‘MV Nord Bosporus’ – at the same Apapa seaport in Lagos for smuggling twenty kilograms of cocaine from Santos in Brazil. In a statement confirming the development in court, FEMI BABAFEMI, quoted the judge, saying: “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 6th December, 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 29th December 2025. In his reaction 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 will never get a foothold in Nigeria. While commending the 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 the drug syndicates targeting the West African sub-region especially Nigeria.” He said the Agency will continue to collaborate with local and international partners to ensure zero tolerance for substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.