Brazil court fines terminal for unlawful container retention, ruling they are not packaging – Datamar News | 06/08/25

A court in Santos, São Paulo, fined customs-bonded terminal Eudmarco S/A R$ 15,000 for unlawfully retaining two containers for nearly a year. The judge ruled that containers are transport units—not packaging or merchandise accessories—and cannot be held even if the cargo inside was seized by customs. He emphasized that bonded terminals must maintain separate facilities for containers, as required by regulations. Although the terminal was ordered to return the containers within 48 hours of notification, they were only released on July 1. The ruling is open to appeal. Link