Municipality inspectors were able to seize more than 80 pickup trucks loaded with fruit and vegetables, along with 259 mobile stalls. Three cars were also impounded.
“These raids were part of routine field inspections from the municipality to root out unlicensed street vendors. However, this time the focus was on places where there is a large concentration of these traders, particularly near mosques and schools,” said the municipality’s director of licensing and monitoring, Bashir Abu Najm.
“Inspection tours are planned months ahead and are approved and coordinated by local authorities. The element of surprise is always used in these raids in order to prevent vendors from escaping.”
The municipality’s director of trade control, Suleiman Muhaimid, said the seized goods are being stored inside the municipality warehouse, particularly as some of them were not fit for human consumption and could be a threat to people’s health.
Eighteen locations were targeted in Aziziyah district, 14 in Al-Jamea district, 24 near the airport and nine in South Jeddah. Foodstuffs found to be safe and edible were donated to charity.
