Warehouse in Melilla closed due to health risk: 100 tons destroyed

The Melilla Local Police , in collaboration with the Autonomous City of Melilla (CAM) Health Inspectors, has closed a food and frozen food warehouse located in a warehouse, "after observing serious irregularities that put public health at risk." The operation came after residents reported "a strong smell of rotting fish." Officers seized more than 100,000 kilos of food products for destruction.

According to the Ministry of Citizen Security, the intervention occurred when officers from the Administrative and Environmental Surveillance Group inspected the warehouse following repeated complaints from residents about disturbing noise and strong odors in the area. During the inspection, officers detected a refrigerated trailer operating in the outdoor yard , generating a loud noise level and a strong odor of rotting fish.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the warehouse, used for storing food and frozen products, had been without power for fifteen days, so they were attempting to preserve the perishable goods using a generator and the refrigerated truck they had found.

Inside the facility, officers located a large-capacity cold storage room completely filled with products. However, the products were beginning to lose their freezing properties, as evidenced by the waterlogged floor and constant water leaks from the pallets of merchandise. These symptoms indicated a breakdown in the cold chain , which posed a serious health risk as the products' suitability for human consumption could not be guaranteed.

Given this situation, health inspectors from the Autonomous City of Melilla were requested, who confirmed the deficiencies detected and ordered the immediate closure of the warehouse , as well as the destruction of all the merchandise, most of which was thawed or in the process of being thawed.

For five days, a joint operation comprised of local police, health inspectors, and specialized workers carried out the removal and destruction of the stored products, whose total weight amounted to 100,000 kilograms.

The police spokesperson emphasized that in addition to the closure of the establishment and the destruction of the merchandise, the company responsible has been charged for lacking the required opening license for this activity.