The first official commercial shipment between Ceuta and Morocco since the border reopening took place on Tuesday, with a truck carrying automotive materials departing Ceuta at 3:30 p.m. and arriving in Morocco at 8:00 p.m. without customs issues, Spanish news outlet Rtve reported.
This follows two failed attempts on January 8 and 16 by the same truck, which was transporting hygiene products but was denied entry due to incomplete documentation, with Moroccan authorities refusing passage and sending the truck back to Ceuta with its cargo after a wait at the border.
The truck, operated by Vivera Atlántico-Mediterráneo, successfully completed all necessary legal procedures, including paying customs duties at facilities outside the border crossing, according to the same source.
The Spanish Government Delegation, Cristina Pérez, described the successful shipment as a milestone in the normalization of trade relations between Spain and Morocco.
Pérez emphasized that the previous failed attempts were due to administrative issues rather than political or diplomatic obstacles.
The land border between Morocco and Melilla saw the crossing of the first commercial truck on January 15. Loaded with approximately 600 kilograms of household appliances and air conditioning units, the truck entered the Beni Ansar customs post in Nador province, marking a historic reopening of the commercial border after a six-year closure.
For context, Spain and Morocco conducted two pilot test runs for customs reopening in 2023, following Morocco’s commitment to reactivating the Melilla customs office and establishing a new one at Ceuta during the High-Level Meeting (RAN) held in Rabat in February of the same year.
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