The Federal Excessive Courtroom in Lagos has ordered the continued detention of the Brazilian vessel MV San Antonio and its 21 crew members following the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine at Apapa Port.
The disclosure was contained in an announcement issued by the Nigeria Customs Service by way of its official X account on Saturday.
The courtroom granted the extension to permit the Nationwide Drug Regulation Enforcement Company (NDLEA) to finish ongoing investigations into the transnational drug trafficking community linked to the vessel.
What Customs is saying
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) described the seizure and detention as a part of its zero-tolerance stance towards narcotics trafficking.
Justice Friday Nkemakonam Ogazi, in a ruling following an utility by the NDLEA, prolonged the detention of the vessel and its crew for an extra 14 days. The extension permits investigators to conclude inquiries into the worldwide drug operation.
“The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance towards narcotics trafficking as a Federal Excessive Courtroom sitting in Lagos ordered the continued detention of a international vessel, MV San Antonio, and its 21 crew members over their alleged involvement in a significant cocaine smuggling operation uncovered at Apapa Port.
“Justice Friday Nkemakonam Ogazi, in a ruling delivered following an utility by the Nationwide Drug Regulation Enforcement Company (NDLEA), granted an extension of the detention of the vessel and its crew for an extra 14 days to permit investigators to conclude ongoing inquiries into the worldwide drug trafficking community,” the assertion learn partly.
Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, Customs Space Controller for Apapa Port, mentioned the vessel’s journey historical past, which included stops in Brazil, Honduras and Guatemala, triggered crimson flags for Customs intelligence.
He emphasised that the seizure demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations and the company’s strengthened collaboration with sister businesses to safe Nigeria’s ports.
Backstory
On December 6, 2025, the Apapa Command of the NCS intercepted the MV San Antonio shortly after it berthed from Brazil, uncovering 25.5 kilograms of cocaine hid in 24 parcels packed throughout 5 luggage of sugar.
The operation was carried out collectively with the NDLEA, which formally took over the vessel, seized narcotics, and arrested all 21 crew members, together with the ship’s grasp, Trofymov Oleksandr.
The NDLEA had initially secured an ex parte courtroom order on December 12, 2025, authorizing the detention of the vessel and crew for 14 days pending the conclusion of investigations and the submitting of prison fees. In accordance with the company, the detained crew comprised nationals of Russia, the Philippines, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan, who have been all taken into custody for additional investigation.
The company highlighted that the cocaine was found following intelligence-led operations and that the cargo’s concealment and hyperlinks to Nigerian nationals advised the involvement of a wider syndicate.
What you must know
The MV San Antonio seizure follows an analogous interception in November 2025 aboard the Brazil-linked vessel MV Nord Bosporus, highlighting repeated makes an attempt by traffickers to use delivery routes from South America to Nigeria.
- Throughout Nigeria’s ports, safety businesses proceed to uncover illicit drug shipments hid in vessels and containers. Current operations embody the October 2025 seizure of codeine-based cough syrup and barkadin price about N1.1 billion at Apapa Port, and a November 2025 cocaine cargo valued at N29.4 billion, one of many largest in Customs historical past.
- These incidents reveal strengthened vigilance at Lagos ports and reinforce the continued collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service, NDLEA, and different safety models to disrupt worldwide drug trafficking by the nation’s maritime corridors.
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