diff --git a/packages/api-gateway/src/__tests__/merchant-suspension.test.ts b/packages/api-gateway/src/__tests__/merchant-suspension.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e101d7b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/api-gateway/src/__tests__/merchant-suspension.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from "vitest";
+import { checkMerchantSuspension } from "../middleware/merchantCheck";
+
+describe("Merchant Suspension Early Lifecycle Checks", () => {
+  it("should reject suspended merchants before handling heavy payloads or route handlers", async () => {
+    const mockRequest = {
+      headers: { "x-merchant-id": "merch_suspended_99" },
+      params: {},
+    } as any;
+
+    const mockReply = {
+      status: vi.fn().mockReturnThis(),
+      send: vi.fn(),
+    } as any;
+
+    await checkMerchantSuspension(mockRequest, mockReply);
+
+    // Verify a consistent 403 Forbidden payload is fired upfront
+    expect(mockReply.status).toHaveBeenCalledWith(403);
+    expect(mockReply.send).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({
+      code: "MERCHANT_SUSPENDED"
+    }));
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/api-gateway/src/app/merchant/routes.ts b/packages/api-gateway/src/app/merchant/routes.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cff8697
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/api-gateway/src/app/merchant/routes.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+import { checkMerchantSuspension } from "../../middleware/merchantCheck";
+
+// When defining your route blocks, register it as a preHandler:
+fastify.register(async function (merchantRoutes) {
+  merchantRoutes.addHook("preHandler", checkMerchantSuspension);
+
+  // Your route definitions here run safely *after* the suspension verification
+  merchantRoutes.get("/listings", async (req, res) => { /* ... */ });
+});
diff --git a/packages/api-gateway/src/middleware/merchantCheck.ts b/packages/api-gateway/src/middleware/merchantCheck.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..088226a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/api-gateway/src/middleware/merchantCheck.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+import { FastifyRequest, FastifyReply } from "fastify";
+import { getMerchantStatusFromDb } from "@/lib/db"; // Adjust matching database or cache layer string
+
+/**
+ * Early preHandler hook that intercepts requests before body parsing occurs.
+ * Rejects suspended merchants immediately to prevent resource consumption and information leaks.
+ */
+export async function checkMerchantSuspension(request: FastifyRequest, reply: FastifyReply) {
+  // Extract merchant identity context safely from headers or route parameters
+  const merchantId = (request.headers["x-merchant-id"] || request.params?.["merchantId"]) as string;
+
+  if (!merchantId) {
+    return; // Pass through if not a merchant-scoped route context
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const merchant = await getMerchantStatusFromDb(merchantId);
+
+    if (merchant && merchant.status === "SUSPENDED") {
+      // Return a consistent suspension error explicitly before heavy work / body parsing begins
+      return reply.status(403).send({
+        error: "Forbidden",
+        message: "Merchant account is suspended.",
+        code: "MERCHANT_SUSPENDED"
+      });
+    }
+  } catch (error) {
+    // Fail closed for safety if the lookup fails
+    return reply.status(500).send({ error: "Internal validation failure." });
+  }
+}