Click image to zoom

Trade At Melilla Border

Moroccan citizens walk to the center of Melilla after passing the the Morocco–Spain border station. The Spanish semi-enclave of Melilla lives from the trade of the second-hand goods and it’s a lucrative business for the traders, but inhumane work for the carriers and workers who cross the border every day to earn a living. Moroccan citizens can take parcels weighing up to 70 kilos through the Barrio Chino border crossing as duty-free 'hand luggage'. Melilla is part of Spain, but doesn’t belong to the European Customs Union. The duty-free transport of goods is actually illegal, but it is tolerated as long as only hand luggage is involved - irrespective of the weight. If the goods are in contact with their bodies, they remain tax and duty-free. It’s a perfidious but very lucrative business for the traders and one of Melilla’s most important sources of income. The border crossings close unexpectedly early, goods traffic backs up. On Wednesday, December 5, 2018, in Melilla, Spain. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#3528032
Date Taken	5 December 2018
Location	N/A
Photographer	Artur Widak/NurPhoto
Category	Human Interest
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Artur Widak/NurPhoto

Related Keywords

Barrio Chino border Bestof Border Business and Finance Carrying Economy Editorial Europe European Customs Union Good and Bad Human Interest Local Life Melilla Melilla - Africa Melilla - Spain Melilla 2018 Morocco - Spain Morocco–Spain border Outdoor Photography Spanish city Street Scene Street View Workers border crossing border fence carriers cars city of Melilla daily life duty-free earn goods hand luggage illegal illegal trade important increase inhumane work living lucrative business old cars parcels perfidious business povery queue second hand second hand goods second-hand semi-enclave services smuggling sources of income tax free tolerated trade traders transfer

License This Photo

Digital Basic Editorial use on digital platforms only (websites, social media). Single use, up to 1 million monthly UVs. Worldwide distribution. NO COMMERCIAL OR PROMOTIONAL USE

€35.00

Editorial Print & Digital For editorial use in print and digital publications such as newspapers, magazines, and textbooks. Single use, up to 10,000 copies or 1 million UVs. Worldwide distribution. NO COMMERCIAL OR PROMOTIONAL USE

€99.00

Broadcast (TV & Digital) For editorial use in TV production or streaming platforms. Single use, all media rights excluding theatrical, with worldwide distribution in perpetuity. NO COMMERCIAL OR PROMOTIONAL USE

€399.00

Total Price

€35.00

Secure checkout

Need a custom license?

Contact Sales