Police in Barcelona have launched a major crackdown on fraudulent “park and go” services near El Prat Airport. This Barcelona airport parking fraud operation has revealed that holidaymakers’ vehicles were used for joyrides and criminal activities while their owners were abroad.
The Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalan police) are currently investigating approximately 30 so-called “ghost” companies. These firms, which appear professional online, offer cheap long-stay parking with shuttle transfers to the terminal. However, investigators have found that many lack their own facilities, security guarantees, or legal permits.
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Home » Barcelona Airport Parking Fraud: Police Crackdown on ‘Ghost’ Services
Barcelona Airport Parking Fraud: Cars Used for Robberies and Parties
The scale of the Barcelona airport parking fraud has alarmed authorities. While customers believed their vehicles were parked securely, police discovered that cars were often left on public streets, in industrial estates, or in shopping centre car parks.
More disturbingly, police sources revealed that some vehicles were used without the owners’ consent. Upon returning from their trips, some travellers found their odometers showed an additional 2,000 kilometres. In several cases involving high-end vehicles, cars had been used for partying, with owners discovering empty alcohol bottles in the boot.
In the most serious instances, customer vehicles were allegedly used as getaway cars following crimes, such as ATM robberies. “In the end, the customer is the victim and doesn’t know that the company is fraudulent,” police sources stated.
Police Crackdown Yields Arrests
A coordinated operation involving the Mossos, National Police, and Labour Inspection began in August 2025. The raids have so far resulted in:
- 102 individuals identified.
- 14 arrests related to immigration offences.
- 24 files opened by Labour Inspection.
- 21 traffic complaints filed.
The investigation has also uncovered severe labour exploitation. Many of the drivers employed by these platforms are migrants in vulnerable situations, working 12-hour shifts for as little as €400 per month without contracts. Additionally, the services often utilise “pirate taxis”-drivers without passenger transport licences-to shuttle customers to the terminal.
Warning to Travellers About Barcelona Airport Parking Fraud
The proliferation of these illegal operators has been driven by the demand for cheaper alternatives to the official AENA airport car parks. Marc Alabernia, deputy sub-inspector of the Regional Airport Security Area, warned travellers to be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.
“People don’t know what they are hiring,” Alabernia said. “If a service is very cheap, there is a reason.”
Police have also issued warnings to aggregator platforms like Parkos, where illegal operators were previously able to list their services without verification. While the police pressure has significantly reduced illegal activity in recent months, operations in the public areas of the airport are set to continue to eradicate the practice entirely.
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