Two “pirate” taxi drivers have been caught operating illegally near the La Marina shopping centre in Arrecife, Lanzarote. The Cabildo of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, through its Transport and Mobility department, has launched formal sanction procedures against both drivers for allegedly providing public transport services without the required permits.
The incidents occurred on the night of 6 August, during a peak time for young visitors to the area. National Police officers observed the vehicles making repeated stops to pick up passengers, who were then taken to various locations across the capital.
During the investigation, police found three mobile phones and a payment terminal, with one device containing a messaging group dubbed “Uber”. The authorities consider these items as supplementary evidence, while the main basis for the accusations comes from the officers’ observations and statements from passengers regarding how they requested the rides.
The Cabildo has proposed fines totalling €8,002, with each driver facing a €4,001 penalty. Miguel Ángel Jiménez, the Transport and Mobility councillor, stated that these violations are classified as serious infractions under Canary Islands transport regulations due to conducting public transport without the necessary authorisation.
Jiménez emphasised the need for ongoing vigilance over emerging methods for soliciting passengers, noting a trend where illegal operators adapt quickly to new communication channels, moving beyond traditional street pickups to arrangements via phones and messaging apps.
He urged consumers to ensure their transport providers are legally registered, stressing that the convenience of quickly finding a ride should not override the safeguards offered by regulated taxi services.
The successful enforcement actions were in part due to the National Police’s surveillance efforts in the La Marina leisure area, where they monitored the movements of the suspect vehicles and subsequently shared their findings with the local police for formal charges.
The Cabildo reiterated its commitment to continue inspections and foster cooperation with security forces to detect discreet operations that exploit digital channels for illegal transportation. Residents and visitors were reminded to only use authorised transport services to contribute to a safer and more regulated mobility system.
