The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released 36 trucks belonging to members of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) that were impounded during an investigation into alleged trade infractions at the Zarmmak Bonded Terminal in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos. The trucks had been detained by officers of the Customs Police attached to the Zone ‘A’ Federal Operations Unit (FOU) after authorities sealed the bonded terminal over suspected violations of Customs regulations.
Although the Customs Service has not publicly disclosed the specific nature of the alleged infractions under investigation, the enforcement action temporarily disrupted trucking operations at the terminal. The incident also sparked concerns among transport operators, who said the prolonged detention of the trucks resulted in significant financial losses for affected businesses.
Confirming the development, AMATO Secretary-General, Mr. Sani Mohammed, said the release of the vehicles followed the intervention of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, after the association repeatedly appealed to the Customs leadership.
Mohammed explained that the affected truck owners consistently maintained they were not connected to the alleged violations being investigated and should not be penalised for issues linked to the bonded terminal’s operations. According to him, the Comptroller-General’s decision brought much-needed relief to operators who had suffered avoidable financial setbacks due to the prolonged seizure of their trucks.
In a statement, AMATO expressed appreciation to the Customs boss, describing the intervention as a prompt and compassionate response. The association said the decision reflects the Service’s commitment to balancing law enforcement with trade facilitation and constructive engagement with stakeholders in the maritime sector. It added that the release of the trucks would allow affected operators to return to business and reduce the financial burden caused by the disruption.
Commenting on the operation, the Controller of the Zone ‘A’ Federal Operations Unit, Comptroller Aliyu Gambo, said the enforcement exercise was undertaken to ensure compliance with existing Customs laws and regulations. Meanwhile, efforts to obtain comments from the management of Zarmmak Bonded Terminal were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. Calls and text messages sent to the FOU Controller before publication were also not answered.
