Fresh concerns are emerging at Tin Can Island Port as cleared vehicles are once again being targeted by thieves commonly referred to as “wharf rats.” Importers and clearing agents say the vandals are stripping valuable parts from imported cars before the vehicles are delivered to their owners.

According to clearing agents working at the port, the thefts mostly involve high-end vehicles, particularly Lexus models. The thieves reportedly remove sensors, cameras, and other key components while the vehicles are still inside the terminal.

The alarm was raised by Sheriff Cisse, Chief Executive Officer of Amtiaco Global Ltd, and Secretary of the Planning and Strategy Committee of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Tin Can Island chapter.

Cisse said the incidents are mainly happening at the Five Star Logistics Terminal, a Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) vehicle terminal. He added that the problem is also affecting vehicles moved to Clarion Bonded Terminal and Classic Terminal, which operate under the same management structure.

He blamed weak security arrangements for the growing problem and pointed to the terminal management and the shipping line Sallaum Lines, including the car park management and vessel crews, as areas where tighter control is needed.

Some clearing agents have already shared experiences of delivering vehicles to importers with missing parts. In one case, an agent said a Lexus RX arrived with several parts removed, and the importer refused to pay for the clearing services. In another case, a Lexus RX 350 had its control knob stolen. Another agent also said he spent about ₦700,000 replacing a camera that had been removed from a vehicle while it was in the terminal, after officials claimed the car arrived that way.

Agents say the incidents reflect wider security gaps at the port. They point to weak monitoring of vehicles both on vessels and inside the terminals, a shortage of drivers to move vehicles quickly out of the port, and general understaffing. Many agents are also worried that the rising port charges are not being matched with improved security or better services.

The situation is beginning to affect the vehicle import business. Some importers are already redirecting their cargo to other shipping lines and terminals, including the Grimaldi Group operations and the Ports & Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML) terminal within Tin Can Port, in an effort to avoid the current risks.

There are also growing calls among clearing agents for a coordinated response. Discussions are ongoing about possible collective action, including protests and stronger pressure on terminal operators to improve security and protect vehicles inside the port.