Three months after Morocco closed commercial borders with Melilla, it is trying to stop the smuggling of goods coming from the autonomous city. Morocco is planning to ban goods smuggled by Melilla merchants in February, president of Melilla borders' merchants Abdeslam Mohamed told online newspaper El Faro de Melilla. Speaking to the same source, he announced that the information was confirmed by a «merchants' association», operating in Nador. The NGO was reportedly urged by the Moroccan Customs to stop its activities. Abdeslam Mohamed said that «at the beginning, closing the Beni Ensar border crossing was taken lightly by merchants who taught that it was just mere talk but it was confirmed and implemented later». Abdeslam Mohamed called on the Spanish government to work on the situation and defend the interests of Melilla. Goods smuggling generates 1,200 million euros per year in profit for merchants «Spain cannot sit idly by. The country must negotiate with the neighboring state so that Melilla is not negatively impacted by the decisions taken by the Moroccan authorities», he told the central government. Indeed, banning goods smuggling near the borders separating Morocco and Melilla is expected to affect merchants operating in the enclave. 200 self-employed merchants are directly threatened by the possible decision. According to Abdeslam Mohamed, 1,500 people will also be affected indirectly. For the activist, the decision is a «catastrophe for the enclave as goods smuggling generates 1,200 million euros (13 billion dirhams) per year in profit for merchants». On the other hand, it is difficult to say that the decision would be fruitful for Moroccan merchants. Justice and Development Party's MP Boutaina Karrouri said during an oral session at the House of Representatives held in January that Morocco could lose 12.5 billion dirhams if it implements the decision. During the same meeting, Morocco's Interior Minister revealed that he would consider an alternative to goods smuggling, especially after the deadly stampedes that occurred in the Tarajal 1 and 2 border crossings. Abdelouafi Laftite explained that his department is trying to «find solutions that would satisfy all parties», acknowledging the fact that «the problem is very complicated with different partners and conflicting interests».
