Zarqa cracking down on illegal sale of firecrackers

By Muath Freij - Jun 27,2015 - Last updated at Jun 27,2015

Traders selling fireworks and firecrackers, as well as pellet guns, face four months in prison and a fine of up to JD5,000 (Photo by Osama Aqarbeh)

AMMAN — Zarqa Municipality is intensifying its inspection campaigns over the sale of firecrackers in the city amidst a growing number of noise-related complaints, Mayor Emad Momani said Saturday.

Momani said municipal teams have already started focusing on local markets and shops that sell firecrackers.

“They inflict great public harm and do not let city residents live in peace,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone.

Momani noted that the municipality has already confiscated many of these items, but did not disclose any figures.

“Firecrackers have resulted in many injuries and sparked disputes among the residents of the city,” he added.

Earlier this month, a boy threw a firecracker inside a mosque in Zarqa, which sparked a big fight between two families.

Three men were injured when a man opened fire in Al Hussein neighbourhood in Zarqa, some 22 kilometres east of Amman.

During Ramadan, children set off firecrackers straight after iftar and continue until it is time for suhour, the pre-dawn meal consumed early in the morning before the day-long fast begins.

Momani noted that firecrackers can be found at stores that were previously licensed to sell them and many street vendors are selling them as well.

“The percentage of firecrackers is high in Zarqa because the city is densely populated and has many public areas.”

Momani said their prices are also affordable which contributes to making them popular in the city.

As of July 29 last year, all firecrackers were banned from entering the domestic market.

At the time, the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organisation warned that anyone found selling fireworks and firecrackers will be referred to specialised courts.

Traders selling fireworks and firecrackers, as well as pellet guns, face four months in prison and a fine of up to JD5,000.

But every year customs agents foil several attempts to smuggle hundreds of cartons of fireworks and firecrackers as importers hide the explosives in containers carrying other products.

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