The Mossos d’Esquadra have intensified the controls In the immediate vicinity of the Barcelona airport after detecting that 70% of the parking companies operating in the area are irregular. These ghost companies scam travelers offering prices up to four times cheaper than legal competition, but vehicles return in poor condition or even use them to commit crimes.
The magnitude of the problem. Between 25 and 30 irregular companies currently proliferate around El Prat, according to They have found The Mossos d’Esquadra. These companies capture customers directly in the terminals and offer their services for just 20 euros per week, compared to the 80 euros on average charged by legal companies. Of course, the price difference is irresistible for many travelers, but the risk of something in the vehicle intensifies.
How Ghost Companies act. Unlike legal companies, which have their own facilities and shuttle services from specific points, these irregular companies operate exclusively at street level. “Legal companies have facilities from which they offer a shuttle between the terminal and a specific parking lot, but the irregular ones do not specify the parking point,” Explain in the middle of the country the sub -inspector of the Mossos in charge of the case. Actually, vehicles leave in shopping, industrial polygons or even on public roads.
The consequences for customers. The cases documented by the police are worrisome. Some travelers have recovered their cars with thousands of additional kilometers, obvious damage or in unfortunate conditions. The most serious case registered was that of a woman who received a judicial notification For a robbery with violence committed in Martorell with her vehicle, while she believed that the car was at the airport. The Mossos confirmed that the vehicle had been used by the employees of the irregular company to commit the crime.
The police response. THE FIRST GREAT OPERATIVE It took place on July 30with the participation of Mossos d’Esquadra, National Police and Labor Inspection. The result: 25 people identified, four arrested for infractions of the Foreigner Law and eight files open for serious infractions. In one of the inspected vehicles they located almost a hundred car keys in the glove compartment, and detected employees without driving or employment contract.
A long -term strategy. “We cannot say how or when we will act because we do not want them to have any perception of when the controls will be done. The operation of July 30 made us see that it could not be a surgical intervention because it is a problem that has been enchanted,” assured the sub -inspector responsible for the environment. The Mossos have established a permanent device with morning, afternoon and night to act as a deterrent, especially during the airport activity peaks.
The challenge of the complaint. Police recognize that the monitoring of these activities is complex because most affected do not present formal complaints. When they do, they are usually more than criminal administrative claims. At the moment, only three cases are being investigated as possible criminal crimes, being an example of the difficulty in pursuing these practices at the judicial level.
Cover image | Kayak
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