Security forces seize 640 liters of expired cleaning products in Ranya

RANYA — A merchant’s attempt to distribute 640 liters of expired cleaning products in Ranya’s market was foiled by security forces before the goods entered the city, local authorities confirmed.

Karzan Suleiman, the head of the joint committees under the Sulaymaniyah’s Ranya district administration, told 964media, “Our committees destroyed 32 containers of 20 liters each of cleaning products confiscated by the security forces.”

He added, “The individual intended to sell the expired goods in the local market, but security forces intercepted the items at the Ranya checkpoint before they could enter the city.” The merchant was arrested and will face legal proceedings.

Photos released by the Ranya District Administration showed the seized products being disposed of in a rural area.

Attempting to address concerns about potential environmental harm, Suleiman stated, “The items were discarded far from populated areas and in a designated waste disposal site. Since these are cleaning products, they are not believed to pose significant environmental risks.”

In November, authorities in Sulaymaniyah destroyed 17 tons of expired food and detergents, while also shutting down 29 shops and establishments, according to statistics from the district administration.

The Sulaymaniyah district committees reported issuing 150 warnings following inspections last month. As part of these operations, large quantities of spoiled and expired products were removed from circulation.

Additionally, authorities imposed financial penalties amounting to 40,325,000 IQD ($26,840) on violators during the same period.