El Prat Airport crackdown has revealed a hidden network of illegal transport and worker exploitation.
A major joint police operation at Barcelona’s main airport resulted in multiple fines and exposed shocking labour conditions.
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The unprecedented raid targeted both pirate taxi services and the companies that exploit their drivers.
El Prat Airport Crackdown Targets Illegal Networks
Authorities from the Mossos d’Esquadra, National Police, and Catalan Labour Inspection conducted the expanded operation. Consequently, they identified 11 drivers, five of whom were working irregularly. Furthermore, National Police opened five immigration cases, while Labour Inspection initiated seven proceedings for labour irregularities.
One vehicle was immobilised for operating without passenger transport authorisation. Police sources explain that a clandestine transport network operates through large accommodation booking platforms offering transfer services. Therefore, passengers book what seems like a legal service online, but subcontracted companies often use unlicensed drivers.
Systematic Labour Exploitation Uncovered
This Friday’s operation marked the first major focus on labour conditions at the airport. Inspectors from the Generalitat’s Labour Department checked whether identified drivers had contracts and examined their working terms. “Sometimes they come to the airport to work for a company but without a contract,” police sources stated.
Companies employing these precarious drivers face fines starting at €10,000 per irregular worker detected. Moreover, many drivers themselves are unaware of their situation’s gravity. Investigators found drivers working 12-hour days for about €400 per month, with no labour guarantees.
Additionally, drivers compete through internal WhatsApp chats, offering the lowest price for journeys. “In the end, you don’t know what car you’re getting into,” said Marc Alabernia, deputy inspector chief of the Mossos’ Airport Security Regional Area. This situation creates unfair competition for licensed taxi and VTC drivers who pay substantial fees to operate legally at the airport.
Ongoing Enforcement And Passenger Risks
National Police participated due to immigration concerns, as most irregular drivers are foreigners. During the operation, three women driving pirate taxis were detained for being in an irregular situation in the country. Another driver was caught using a high-end vehicle with passenger transport plates, but the vehicle owner didn’t match the licence holder.
Operating without airport passenger transport authorisation carries a €4,001 fine and immediate vehicle immobilisation. “We detain two or three vehicles daily for this reason,” police sources told El Periódico. The Mossos’ Traffic Unit has now established a permanent office at the airport to handle these cases more efficiently.
Passengers who book these irregular services often become unwitting victims. When police intercept pirate taxis, officers accompany stranded passengers to areas where they can find legal taxis. The Mossos conduct almost daily operations against illegal passenger transport at El Prat, particularly on road access points they describe as “bottlenecks.”
This year alone, Catalan police have conducted over 300 vehicle checks at El Prat. Many detected pirate taxi drivers also operate in hotel areas along the Costa Daurada and Costa Brava, picking up tourists for airport transfers without any licence. Authorities now seek increased collaboration with local police in these municipalities to intensify detection of these practices. This El Prat Airport crackdown highlights how transport enforcement intersects with broader socio-economic challenges in the Barcelona area.
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