Customs Intercepts Brazilian Vessel in Lagos With 25.5kg of Cocaine, Detains Ship for Investigation

The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of a Brazilian vessel, MV San Anthonio, which arrived at the Lagos Port Complex carrying 25.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed on board. The discovery, made through a joint intelligence-driven operation between the NCS and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), marks one of the most significant maritime drug seizures recorded at the Apapa Port in recent months.

According to the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, the narcotics were found hidden in 24 tightly packed parcels stored inside five carefully concealed bags. The suspicious cargo was uncovered during a coordinated search based on intelligence suggesting that the vessel had suspicious transit patterns and possible links to international drug trafficking networks.

Oshoba revealed that the MV San Anthonio originated from Brazil—a country identified as a major source of cocaine shipments globally—and made multiple stops in Honduras, Guatemala, and other Central American locations commonly associated with illicit drug trade routes. He explained that such travel patterns immediately raised red flags and led to the enhanced scrutiny that ultimately exposed the concealed drugs.

Speaking during the handover of the seized cocaine to the NDLEA, Oshoba emphasized that the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of sustained intelligence sharing and interagency collaboration. He reaffirmed that the NCS remains fully committed to enforcing the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s directive on zero tolerance for compromise within Nigerian ports.

“What we have achieved today is a product of profiling, intelligence gathering, and partnership between Customs and the NDLEA,” Oshoba said. “Our determination to halt unlawful trade is renewed daily in line with the directives of the CGC. This seizure—and the subsequent detention of the vessel—should send a clear message to criminal syndicates that the port system will not serve as a gateway for narcotics.”

He further stressed that the Yuletide season typically witnesses increased attempts to smuggle contraband due to heightened commercial activity. However, he assured the public that security agencies are on high alert. “We will never place national security or the nation’s economic integrity at risk under the guise of trade facilitation. Every consignment entering or leaving this port must be properly examined and must align with its declared contents.”

In line with established procedure, the NDLEA formally received the seized cocaine for further investigation and possible prosecution of those connected to the shipment. The Agency was represented by CN Haliru Umar, Commander of the NDLEA Apapa Strategic Command, who acknowledged the cooperation extended by Customs and affirmed that the NDLEA would conduct a full investigation to identify the drug trafficking network behind the shipment.

A statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Apapa Command, CSC Isah Suleiman, detailed the operation and reaffirmed that the vessel remains detained pending comprehensive investigation. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether crew members have been arrested or the extent of their involvement.

The interception of the MV San Anthonio underscores Nigeria’s growing effort to curb transnational drug trafficking via seaports, which officials say remains a preferred route for large-scale shipments due to the volume of goods processed daily. Customs and NDLEA officials maintain that continued collaboration, technology-driven operations, and improved intelligence will tighten monitoring systems and reduce vulnerabilities across the nation’s maritime corridors.