Costa del Sol businesses are up in arms over the number of street vendors claiming that the amount of people selling things illegally on the streets is spiralling out of control.
In a recent statement, the Benalmadena Association of Merchants and Entrepreneurs (ACEB) said the situation was as “alarming” and “critical.”
President Rosa Maria Gonzalez Rubia said: “The problem is much bigger this year, we are receiving continual complaints from local businesses, especially those located on the seafront and marina.
“They are powerless witnesses of the unfair competition imposed by this illegal activity, which often takes place on their own doorsteps.”
Despite Benalmadena Town Council joining with representatives Torremolinos meeting to discuss how to deal with the problem “, they have done nothing,” continued Ms Rubia.
“There appears to be a total lack of political will to implement the proposals that were put on the table back in April,” she added.
The suggestions on how to tackle the problem included a public awareness campaign and getting the local and national police to work together.
Benalmadena mayor Victor Navas claimed that due to the sheer number of vendors the police could not cope because “the number of sellers has doubled and many now act aggressively towards officers rather than packing up and moving on when confronted.”
He then weighed in saying the only way to solve the problem is “better border control over illegal merchandise and a change in Spanish law since the activity is currently punished only with administrative sanctions.”
