JEDDAH, 16 December 2007 — Municipal officials, together with Jeddah police, yesterday raided an illegal livestock market on Abdullah Sulaiman Street in the Jamiah District, seizing 125 animals and seven vehicles.
The raid was the first in a series of raids on illegal livestock markets in Jeddah organized annually by Jeddah Municipality and police officials during the Haj season in the run up to Eid Al-Adha.
Municipal officials said that illegal markets cause traffic congestion and that stray sheep cause car accidents. The market on Abdullah Sulaiman Street was located in front of the King Abdul Aziz University.
Livestock owners told Arab News that they have been forced to illegally sell livestock at uncertified locations because of the high prices charged for rent space at the certified Livestock Market in Al-Khumra. Abdudan ibn Said said his only means of income is selling animals. “I’m an old man. I can’t travel far to the new livestock market,” he said.
Saleh Al-Muabadi, another livestock owner, said: “Our customers have become accustomed to our illegal locations.”
Muhammad Al-Bishri, another livestock owner, said that the municipality should designate seasonal locations for livestock owners to sell animals.
Khaled Jarallah, general supervisor of the Abattoirs Department at Jeddah Municipality, said that on the first day 125 animals and seven cars were confiscated. “We call on the general public to keep away from these illegal sites... They are not environment-friendly,” he said.
“Why don’t livestock owners begin selling in empty areas next to existing slaughterhouses, where they aren’t going to be bothered, instead of operating from locations inside the city, which are unsuitable for everybody,” he added.
