Customs denies arrest of ship master, explains Tincan enforcement action

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Tin Can Island Port Command, has denied reports alleging that the ship master of MT NY Maria was arrested during an enforcement operation at the MRS Terminal, Dantata Jetty, Lagos.

The customs command insisted that the officer was only invited to make statements as part of an ongoing investigation.

The clarification followed controversies surrounding the temporary sealing of the vessel, which was reportedly laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) sourced from the Dangote Refinery and scheduled for discharge at Tin Can Island Port.

In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer(PRO) of the command, Chief Superintendent of Customs Oscar Ivara, the service explained that the enforcement action was triggered by alleged violations of Customs procedures and documentation requirements.

According to the command, officers of the Boarding and Rummaging Unit boarded the vessel on May 23, 2026, as part of routine inspection procedures upon its arrival from the refinery. During the checks, Customs officials reportedly discovered that the vessel lacked complete documentation, especially the mandatory last port clearance from the port of origin.

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The command stated that the vessel’s agent was granted a two-day grace period to provide the outstanding documents, while the ship remained under Customs seal and official supervision pending compliance.

However, Customs said intelligence later revealed that the vessel had allegedly commenced discharge operations without obtaining the required clearance and while still under Customs restriction.

The statement disclosed that officers deployed to enforce compliance at the terminal initially faced resistance from security personnel before gaining access to halt the discharge process and reseal the vessel.

“The ship master was not arrested at any point. He was only invited to report to the Enforcement Unit to provide statements relevant to the investigation,” the command clarified.

Customs maintained that the action taken was in line with provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which empowers officers to inspect vessels, regulate cargo discharge, and enforce compliance within Customs-controlled areas.

The service further warned terminal operators, shipping companies, and vessel owners against bypassing established clearance procedures, stressing that no operator is above the law.

The command added that investigations into the incident, including alleged obstruction encountered during the enforcement operation are ongoing.