The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured a court order authorising the detention of a seagoing vessel and its 21 crew members following the interception of a large cocaine shipment, in what officials describe as a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against transnational drug trafficking.
The order, granted by a Federal High Court, allows the anti-narcotics agency to hold the vessel and crew pending the conclusion of investigations into the origin, ownership and intended destination of the illicit drugs.
NDLEA officials said the development underscores the agency’s renewed resolve to dismantle international drug networks using Nigeria’s waterways as transit routes.
According to the agency, the vessel was intercepted following intelligence-led operations and coordinated surveillance involving maritime security agencies. Preliminary findings indicate that the ship was allegedly being used to traffic large quantities of cocaine, concealed in a manner designed to evade detection.
Following the interception, NDLEA operatives moved swiftly to secure the vessel, arrest the crew members and apply for judicial authorisation to prevent any interference with evidence or escape by suspects.
The court order now empowers the NDLEA to detain the vessel while forensic analysis, crew interrogations and international cooperation efforts continue.
NDLEA officials explained that the detention order was sought to ensure compliance with due process and to strengthen the prosecution’s case.
Legal experts note that such orders are critical in complex drug trafficking cases, especially those involving foreign vessels, multinational crews and cross-border criminal syndicates.
The agency said the operation sends a clear signal that Nigeria is no longer a safe corridor for narcotics trafficking.
NDLEA leadership reaffirmed its commitment to:
- aggressive intelligence-driven operations,
- close collaboration with international drug enforcement agencies,
- strict prosecution of suspects regardless of nationality,
- and sustained disruption of maritime drug trafficking routes.
Officials stressed that all suspects remain innocent until proven guilty, adding that investigations are ongoing to identify sponsors, financiers and local collaborators linked to the shipment.
Security analysts say the case highlights growing concerns about the use of West African maritime routes for cocaine trafficking from Latin America to Europe and Asia.
They argue that enhanced port security, improved vessel screening and stronger inter-agency cooperation will be crucial in sustaining recent gains recorded by the NDLEA.
The seizure also reinforces Nigeria’s international obligations under global drug control conventions and its role in combating organised crime within the Gulf of Guinea.
The court-approved detention of the vessel and its 21 crew members marks a significant step in the NDLEA’s crackdown on maritime drug trafficking. As investigations continue, authorities say the case could expose wider international networks and further strengthen Nigeria’s resolve against the illicit drug trade.
