A fresh clampdown in Spain could see tourists slapped with fines for purchasing goods from unlicensed vendors. Undercover police officers will be on patrol in Costa Blanca, issuing penalties to unsuspecting shoppers.
The popular holiday destination is taking a stand against illegal street sellers, who peddle everything from trainers and sunglasses to fake ‘designer’ handbags and watches. Tourists are often lured in by the bargain prices, but those who buy these cheap souvenirs could now find themselves £170 out of pocket.
Plain-clothed police will be conducting patrols throughout the peak summer holiday period, and individuals caught buying from unlicensed ‘manteros’ will be hit with immediate fines of up to €200 (around £170). These sellers are locally known as manteros or ‘top mantas’ in Spain, as they typically display their goods on top of blankets spread out on the street, reports Birmingham Live.
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Recently, the Guardia Civil confiscated several tonnes of counterfeit products from a warehouse in Alicante intended for street sellers. The mayor of Torrevieja, a bustling city on the Costa Blanca, has called for an increase in police presence this summer to enforce the rules. During the peak of summer, the city’s population more than doubles to approximately 500,000, as reported by Alicante Today.
There have been calls in Spain’s Costa del Sol for stricter penalties on shoppers who purchase from the so-called ‘looky looky men’. These roaming street vendors, often seen selling trinkets, clothes and counterfeit items to beachgoers, are frequently operating illegally without a licence.
The local Association of Traders and Businessmen alleges that legitimate shop owners in the coastal town of Benalmadena are losing between 20 and 30 per cent of their profits to these unlicensed sellers.