In a major crackdown on international drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured a Federal High Court order to detain a merchant vessel and its crew following a significant drug bust.
Court Grants 14-Day Detention Order
Justice Frida Nkemakonam Ogazi of the Federal High Court in Lagos has granted the NDLEA's application to detain the ship, MV San Anthonio, its captain, and 20 crew members for an initial period of fourteen days. The order, delivered on December 17, 2025, allows the agency to continue its investigation and prepare criminal charges.
The court's ruling permits the detention "pending the conclusion of investigation and/or filing of criminal charge and prosecution." The case has been adjourned until December 29, 2025.
Intelligence-Led Operation at Apapa Port
The action stems from an operation on December 6, 2025, when the MV San Anthonio arrived at the Apapa Seaport from Brazil. Acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives conducted a search after the vessel's cargo was fully discharged.
The search led to the discovery of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed within the ship's hatch. The crew, comprising nationals from several countries including Russia, the Philippines, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan, were immediately taken into custody alongside the seized narcotics.
NDLEA's Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, confirmed the details in an official statement.
A Pattern of Interceptions and a Firm Warning
This seizure is not an isolated incident. It follows a similar interception on November 16, 2025, where NDLEA officers confiscated 20 kilograms of cocaine from another vessel, the MV Nord Bosporus, which also originated from the port of Santos, Brazil.
Reacting to the latest bust, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier-General Mohamed Marwa (Retired), issued a stern warning. He stated that the seizure reaffirms the agency's determination to prevent Nigeria from being used as a transit hub for illicit drugs.
"This latest seizure reinforces my earlier warning to international drug cartels and their local collaborators that they will never get a foothold in Nigeria," Marwa declared. He described the operation as a testament to the agency's heightened capacity and resolve to frustrate drug syndicates targeting West Africa.
Marwa further affirmed the NDLEA's commitment to collaborating with local and international partners to achieve a policy of zero tolerance for substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking within Nigeria.
Broader Concerns Over Nigeria's Drug Abuse Crisis
In a related development highlighting the context of this enforcement, the NDLEA has expressed deep concern over Nigeria's escalating drug abuse crisis. The agency cites disturbing data that threatens the nation's workforce, public safety, and economic stability.
At a briefing in Ogwashi Uku, Delta State, the NDLEA Commander in the state, Halilu Hamidu, referenced a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report. The report indicates that 14.4 per cent of Nigerians aged 15 to 64 use drugs without medical supervision.
Furthermore, the report shows that 10.4 per cent of the population consumes psychoactive substances, with one in every four users being female—a statistic that underscores the widening social spread of drug abuse.
Commander Hamidu noted that Delta State mirrors this troubling national trend, with many communities grappling with drug use that destabilizes families and society at large.
