Rotten produce seized at Shushme border crossing to be returned to Iran

HALABJA — Authorities at the Shushme border crossing in Halabja have seized a shipment of 18 tons and 300 kilograms of spoiled muskmelon imported from Iran, the Halabja Agriculture Directorate announced on Sunday.

The confiscation took place Saturday, with officials deciding to return the shipment to Iran after inspections revealed it was unfit for consumption.

Keywan Fattah, an official at Shushme, told 964media, “Due to decay and spoilage, the muskmelon was not suitable for consumption,” and the shipment was rejected.

This marks the second incident this month involving spoiled produce at the Shushme crossing. Last week, authorities seized 4 tons and 700 kilograms of spoiled peppers.

The Shushme border crossing connects the Halabja’s Tawela subdistrict in the Kurdistan Region to Paveh in Iran’s Kermanshah province.

There are ongoing efforts to eliminate spoiled or expired products. On Dec. 5, more than 27 tons of watermelon were returned to Iran from the Bashmakh International Border Crossing in Penjwen, Sulaymaniyah, after being deemed unfit for consumption.