A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the continued detention of the Brazilian‑flagged vessel MV San Antonio and its 21 crew members following the seizure of 25.5 kilograms of cocaine at Apapa Port.
Justice Friday Nkemakonam Ogazi granted the extension for 14 days to allow authorities to complete investigations into the transnational drug trafficking network linked to the shipment. The next court hearing is scheduled for January 13, 2026.
The vessel, which arrived from Brazil on December 6, 2025, was intercepted shortly after berthing at Apapa Port, where the drugs were found concealed in bags of sugar. The seizure was carried out jointly by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
All 21 crew members, including the vessel’s master, Trofymov Oleksandr, remain in custody as investigations continue. NDLEA officials cited the ship’s route through Brazil, Honduras, and Guatemala as raising red flags that prompted close scrutiny.
Customs authorities emphasized that the extended detention is necessary to fully trace the syndicate’s operations and identify any accomplices, reflecting the complex international nature of the trafficking network.
This incident highlights ongoing intelligence‑driven enforcement at Nigerian ports, where authorities have increasingly intercepted large consignments of narcotics, signaling heightened vigilance against transnational drug trafficking. Visit www.jocomms.com for more news.