The Port Authority conducted an operation against the looky looky men on Thursday night, July 31st, during which at least four individuals were apprehended. The operation was attended by Port Police, National Police, and Local Police officers.
The Paseo de los Mártires de la Libertad and the port entrance were raided by a total of 50 officers from the three branches to combat the illicit street vending that has been prevalent in the area throughout the summer.
Just after 10:30 p.m., the officers, who had previously obstructed traffic on the road adjacent to the Esplanade to prevent potential collisions during the anticipated escapes, appeared in an area that was crowded with hundreds of visitors. Before the arrival of vehicles and officers, the vendors, who numbered in the dozens, retreated, either marching towards the Esplanade or entering the port of Alicante. One vendor even made a desperate attempt to conceal himself among the moored vessels by jumping into the sea at the port of Alicante. However, he was apprehended by police officers.
The sudden police search caused some of the vendors to abandon their merchandise in order to escape more quickly and avoid arrest, as they were visibly disoriented and frightened. Soccer jerseys, bags, sunglasses, and stuffed animals comprised the majority of the objects that were left on the ground. Several of these items, which were left on the distinctive white linens, were collected by residents in the vicinity who were perplexed by the police’s intervention.
The raiders estimated the number of detainees at four by the conclusion of the operation, which occurred around midnight. It is believed that no physical injuries were reported, as per police sources.
The sellers fled through a variety of routes, and a significant number of them were situated in distinct locations, including the Esplanade, the customs building, the parking lot adjacent to the building, the “Volvo zone” of the port, and the recreational area near the casino.
Additionally, vendors were apprehended on the port’s flyover, with some being handcuffed to the ground. The objective, according to sources involved in the operation, was to confiscate illicit merchandise.
Since the commencement of this summer, the illicit practice of street vending has reemerged in bustling coastal areas, including the Esplanade and the port promenade, following years of increased regulation in the city centre. Vicente Armengol, president of the Alicante Merchants’ Collective, recently issued a warning regarding this situation and urged for additional police intervention to “protect the right to have commerce harmed as little as possible.”
The same representative of the city’s merchants stated that this type of commerce generates “unfair competition” and said a street vendor’s trade typically experiences “a surge in the summer, and that’s when we shouldn’t let it get any worse.” He expressed concern after observing the proliferation of this activity during the peak tourist season.
The Alicante City Council, through its Department of Security, and the Port Authority have decided to implement a collaboration agreement to jointly combat illegal sales. This decision was made in response to the proliferation of looky looky men around the port and the Esplanade this summer. This was demonstrated by the operation that took place on Thursday, which led to the confiscation of material and the arrest of at least four individuals.
Author: Derek Appleton
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