Local Police have seized 100kg of fruit and garlic, being sold illegally by street vendors. Four roadside sellers have been issued with fines ranging from €600 and €3000.
The fruit – grapes and mandarins – and heads of garlic were seized as part of an operation against illegal street selling carried out over the weekend by Local Police. As part of the sweep, three food outlets were dismantled, apparently having been in operation without municipal authorization.
Ten officers took part in the operation which first targeted a roadside seller, seizing 20 kilos of grapes and 30 kilos of mandarins. Officers then moved on to a second stall, seizing an almost identical amount of produce before moving on to a third roadside food stall, seizing 10 kilos of garlic.
According to police sources, the seized merchandise was being sold on the street and did not comply with the necessary sanitary measures for its distribution and storage. Illegal distribution and sales is considered a very serious infraction, especially for those carrying out commercial activity on public roads without the mandatory municipal authorization. In terms of food safety, without the municipal permissions in place, vendors have not been checked for hygiene nor that the that foodstuffs have been sourced or stored safely.