Morocco suspends commercial customs operations with Melilla during Marhaba Operation

After just six months of operation, Morocco has decided to suspend commercial customs activity with Melilla, Spanish media reported on Tuesday, July 8.

«There will be no more commercial customs until further notice», announced Juan José Imbroda, president of the Melilla city council, during a press conference. He clarified that the movement of goods is now prohibited in both directions during the Operation Marhaba 2025 transit period, which runs from July 15 to September 15.

Imbroda, a member of Spain’s opposition People's Party (PP), argued that the flow of Moroccans Residing Abroad (MREs) «can perfectly coexist» with the operation of commercial customs. He pointed out that on June 26, just 11 days into Operation Marhaba, Melilla received its first shipment of Moroccan fruit, 15 tons in total.

It’s worth recalling that Point 3 of the Joint Declaration issued after the April 7, 2022 meeting in Rabat between King Mohammed VI and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez states that: «The full normalization of the movement of people and goods will be restored in an orderly manner, with appropriate customs and people-control measures at both land and maritime levels».