On Saturday, Palma Police staged an operation against illegal street selling, counterfeit goods and illegal immigration.
In the morning, police were deployed simultaneously, blocking all entrances, exits and possible escape routes from S’Hort del Rei, Dalt Murada, Almudaina and the Cathedral in one of the largest operations of this kind ever carried out in the city. Fourteen people were charged with offences against intellectual and industrial property - the sale of counterfeit branded t-shirts, wallets, glasses and bags.
This was a larger operation than one on April 8, when Palma town hall announced that there would be further actions. Residents and legitimate traders welcomed the operation, but one trader said: "These operations should be carried out every day. They are very good, but it is a war, a constant battle. We understand that they are people without papers who have to earn a living, but what cannot happen is that they come here, take over the area and deceive tourists with fake goods. We are paying our taxes, premises, electricity, water, licences, etc. They don't pay anything and it's impossible to fight on equal terms."
Over the next few days, the police will file reports but knowing that fines achieve very little as the illegal traders are insolvent. The main blow to their activities comes from the loss of the goods.
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Zoltan TeglasFYI. https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2023/03/24/111541/mallorca-society-illegal-street-sellers-being-trained-find-jobs.html
Chris GI couldn't care less if they sell counterfeit goods. So billionaire companies like Nike might lose a few dollars (which I doubt) boo hoo. And what are these people supposed to do? If no one will give them proper jobs what do you think they are going to do, just starve to death!
Allowing or turning a blind eye to these immigrants selling illegal fake goods generates Topsy-like growth and before you know it every street corner is blighted with them and their displays. Take Naples. Once a city to see and walk around with charm and beauty. Now streets littered with immigrant vendors who've turned the centre into one big market. A big problem which is out of control and has even created no-go areas for police as the immigrants control the streets. This is not how we want Palma to become.
Zoltan TeglasSo do you think it is somehow OK that they spread their blankets and sell the goods wherever they choose to?? From my side the real issue is not what goods they are selling it is the fact that they sell them in busy, high profile places such as in front of the cathedral, on the beach front in our resorts etc etc. Of the police don't control them then they will just proliferate and we will have ad hoc street markets everywhere. Counterfeit goods should though be targeted in all locations that they are offered, shops are just as guilty of this as the street traders. The law should be enforced everywhere on this matter.
'deceive tourists with fake goods.' No one is being deceived. Unless the tourists have the IQ of a snail they know that these goods are fake. And Just because someone buys some fake Raybans for 15€, it doesn't mean that a shop somewhere is losing out, as the real ones are around €130, which these type of tourists won't buy.