A driving licence theory test in Tortosa descended into chaos last week when one applicant threw down his exam paper and fled the room as police began arresting fellow candidates for using sophisticated hidden technology to cheat.
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The incident occurred on March 5th during a routine exam session in the town’s Ferreries neighbourhood. Officers from the Mossos d’Esquadra’s specialised Traffic Investigation and Documentation Group were monitoring the test when they noticed several individuals behaving suspiciously.
Their investigation uncovered six men, aged between 24 and 35, using an elaborate high-tech system to receive answers from outside the examination centre. A seventh man, allegedly part of the same scheme, made a dramatic escape before he could be apprehended.
A High-Tech Deception
According to a report from El Caso, the six men, of Moroccan and Pakistani nationality, were equipped with what police describe as the “usual kit” for this type of fraud. Each had a mobile phone concealed beneath their clothing, connected to a micro-earpiece and a tiny camera.
This setup allowed them to transmit a live video feed of the exam paper to an accomplice located elsewhere. The accomplice would then find the correct answers and relay them back to the candidate via the hidden earpiece. Police believe the individuals may have been acting as a coordinated group.
As the Mossos agents moved through the room, identifying and detaining the cheaters one by one, the seventh suspect realised the game was up. In a moment of panic, he reportedly threw his test papers onto the desk, leapt to his feet, and ran from the building. He managed to evade capture, thereby avoiding the immediate sanctions faced by his colleagues.
A Growing Problem Across Catalonia
Significant consequences await those caught. Under regulations set by Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), cheating on a driving exam results in a €500 fine and a six-month ban from retaking any driving tests.
This Tortosa incident is not isolated; it’s part of a wider trend of organised cheating authorities combat across Catalonia. Similar operations have recently uncovered fraud in Tarragona, Lleida, and La Seu d’Urgell. Another man in Tortosa was caught using the same methods in January. Officials often find that the individuals involved have a limited command of Spanish or Catalan and turn to these illegal services for assistance with translation and passing the test.
The use of increasingly sophisticated technology poses a constant challenge for examiners and law enforcement. The methods range from devices hidden in clothing to mobile phones concealed in shoes. This pattern of organised rule-breaking mirrors other illegal activities that authorities have been cracking down on, from unlicensed bar casinos in L’Hospitalet to police raids on international drug rings operating out of Barcelona.
Authorities from the Mossos d’Esquadra and the Servei Català de Trànsit (Catalan Traffic Service) pledge to continue these checks, ensuring the integrity of the licensing process and the safety of the region’s roads.
