The Arrecife Local Police has concluded an investigation, initiated last autumn, which has made it possible to dismantle an illegal workshop that was offered as a vehicle rental headquarters. The investigation by the agents of the Local Police Corps has allowed to prove that up to 38 vehicles were offered for these activities, lacking the mandatory authorizations, and all are registered in the name of the same person: a citizen born in America, and resident in Arrecife.
The police devices activated by the Local Police in different areas of Arrecife have allowed to identify these cars, which when their drivers were stopped, stated to the agents that "they had been rented." The police investigation, supported by the technological systems with which the Local Police Corps has been equipped, has allowed to cross-reference the data with the database of the General Directorate of Traffic, and marking a traceability, it was detected that these vehicles were offered in different publications as "rental cars." Several of them were identified entering or leaving the cruise ship dock area of the capital of Lanzarote.
In parallel, the agents alerted by neighbors of a premises where workshop work is carried out, with the appearance of being illegal, were able to determine that it was indeed carrying out the tasks of a mechanical repair shop, and it was the same establishment that was offered as a headquarters for the car rental activity, without having the mandatory activity authorizations, waste treatment, and deposits for the collection of oils, among others.
The minutes drawn up by the Local Police accredit that illicit activities were carried out in this aforementioned premises. The ocular inspection of the police officer, before they opened access to the interior of that garage, was able to determine the presence of vehicles, machinery and tools, among others.
The agents, having identified this premises, detect that there is a person waiting at the door and that, upon noticing the police presence, tries to close the door where the neighbor reported the presence of the illegal workshop, although the agents manage to access before he closes the door.
When asked if he had authorization as a workshop, he confirmed that he did not. He also stated that his vehicles were all in his name, as a natural person, a total of 38 cars. The Police monitored the advertisements on pages where they were offered as 'rent a car' cars.
When asked if he has a license for the workshop activity, he states that he does not. When asked if he is registered as a small producer of hazardous waste, he states that he is not.
The Police monitored up to 101 advertisements where it was offered as vehicle rental", the first of these advertisements dated 01/07/2022. The agents have provided screenshots of the aforementioned advertisements throughout the investigation. Some, as specified in the minutes, were deleted after the start of this investigation by the Local Police.
The City Council requests the Department of Transportation to act and sanction
The minutes and police investigation have been sent from the Arrecife City Council to the Department of Transportation of the Cabildo of Lanzarote so that, within the framework of its powers, it sanctions the owner of these vehicles for lacking the mandatory authorizations in transportation matters.
Likewise, the investigation has already been sent by the Arrecife City Council to the Tax Agency, Labor Inspectorate, Department of Industry of the Government of the Canary Islands and Agency for the Protection of the Natural Environment of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands so that, from their respective administrative responsibilities, they initiate the sanctions to which it may give rise.