Ceuta sanctions Stall 28 of the Central Market with loss of position

The Ministry of Health and Social Services of the Autonomous City of Ceuta has resolved to sanction Mr. Sufian Hossain, holder of stall number 28 of the Central Market, with the loss of ownership of said stall for keeping it closed for more than three months without justified cause. The decision is adopted via Decree 620, signed by the Minister Nabila Benzina Pavón on August 20, 2026, and published in the Official Gazette of the Autonomous City of Ceuta (BOCCE) number 6,650, of September 8, 2026, on page 3399.

The sanctioning proceedings were initiated via Decree 2025/13421 against Mr. Sufian Hossain, with ID 45.*18.*7*F, for the alleged commission of a very serious infringement of the Market Regulations of the City of Ceuta, approved by plenary agreement on January 21, 1998. The interested party submitted allegations, which were answered in a timely and proper manner through a proposed resolution, and on May 7, 2026, the proposal report was forwarded to him with a period of 15 business days to file objections. After the deadline passed without allegations or evidence to refute the fact, the processing of the procedure continued.

The infringement and its regulatory framework

The Market Regulations define markets as public domain assets assigned to a public service intended for the retail sale of basic food items for the supply of the population. Article 45, section e), classifies the closure of the stall for three months as a very serious offense, unless there is a justified cause recognized by the Ministry of Health.

The sanctioning regime of Article 46 establishes the applicable sanctions according to the severity:

• Minor offenses: fine of up to 42 euros.
• Serious offenses: fine from 42.01 to 90 euros.
• Very serious offenses: fine from 90.01 to 150 euros, except for those classified in sections c) and e) of Article 45, the sanction for which is the loss of ownership of the stall.

Effects of the resolution

Decree 620 orders the sanctioning of Mr. Sufian Hossain for the closure of the stall for more than three months without justified cause, with the resulting loss of ownership. He is granted a period of 10 business days, from the day following the notification, to hand over the keys of the stall at the Central Market offices and remove all belongings and merchandise, leaving it in perfect condition.

Pursuant to Article 19 of the regulations, once the right of occupation is extinguished, the holder must vacate the stall free of merchandise and belongings; otherwise, the execution will be carried out via administrative channels at the expense of the outgoing holder. Once the appeal period has expired without any having been filed, the stall will be declared vacant and said declaration will be published in the BOCCE.

Appeals and guarantees

This resolution exhausts all administrative remedies. An optional motion for reconsideration may be filed before the same body within one month, or it may be challenged directly before the Administrative Litigation Court of Ceuta within two months of notification, in accordance with Law 39/2015, of October 1, on the Common Administrative Procedure.

The sanction underscores the City’s commitment to maintaining the Central Market as an essential public supply service. The loss of ownership of stall 28 seeks to guarantee the continuity of commercial activity and prevent stalls from remaining closed to the detriment of consumers and the rest of the market traders.

Source: Official Gazette of the Autonomous City of Ceuta (BOCCE), No. 6,650, September 8, 2026, Other Provisions and Agreements, p. 3399 (official reference: Decree 620).