The Ibiza Council's Office for the Fight Against Intrusion has already put out to tender the contracting of 41 detective services to fight against pirate taxis during the next tourist season. This was announced by the island's Director of Transport, Roberto Algaba, who pointed out that these services will cost 100,000 euros.
Algaba explained that detectives were hired in the summer of 2024 to intervene in this serious problem ‘with very good results’. This work is carried out by these professionals practically from the moment they land on the island, as they are contacted at the airport by these offenders. As the island director explained, the work of the detectives allowed in 2024 ‘a drastic reduction’ of pirate taxis and even the disappearance of some WhatsApp groups in which they operated. It was precisely the detectives who infiltrated these chats, which led the Consell to increase sanctions when this illegal offer is made by this means.
The island director pointed out that, when the detective arrives at the airport, it is the pirates themselves who offer their services inside the AENA facilities. Once in the car, the detective asks the driver to take him to a point on the island where the police are waiting for them, who then open the corresponding complaint.
Another of the measures adopted for the coming season to tackle this problem is related to the law limiting vehicle access to the island. In this regard, Roberto Algaba has announced that penalties will be increased to 30,000 euros in these cases if, despite having authorisation to circulate, they are caught in breach of the Balearic Transport Law. This penalty will be added to the usual 15,000 euros and the withdrawal of the vehicle.
The Office for the Fight against Intrusion is of the opinion that the measures adopted by the institution ‘are useful’. However, the fact that AENA does not intervene in the presence of pirates in its facilities, hinders obtaining better results in the persecution of this illegal practice. ‘If I set up a stall at the airport to sell water, how long will it take for AENA security to kick me out,’ asked the island's Director of Transport.
On the other hand, the law limiting access to vehicles will also try to solve the ‘legal vacuum’ in which foreign car owners, who are not registered on the island and who do not pay road tax, now find themselves. From this summer, if they do not have a quota, they will be fined and their vehicles may be immobilised. ‘There is a legal loophole between the DGT and the Ministry of Finance that allows a foreign car not to pay road tax,’ explained the island's vice-president, Mariano Juan, ’now they will have to ask for a quota and pay the corresponding tax.
Furthermore, ‘it won't matter’ when the car arrived on the island. ‘If it does not have authorisation to circulate on that day’, Juan warned, «it will be sanctioned».
