Civil Guard Dismantles Illegal Mechanical Workshop Hidden in Alicante Village

The Civil Guard has dismantled an illegal mechanical workshop that attempted to conceal its operations from a village in the province of Alicante. The irregular establishment's activities were detected by the Nature Protection Service (Seprona) of the Benemérita in Guardamar, leading to an intervention that could result in fines of up to 100,000 euros for the alleged offender.

Officers were conducting surveillance in a rural area of Algorfa, in the Vega Baja region, when they discovered facilities that aroused their suspicion. An inspection confirmed their suspicions, revealing that the responsible party could not provide a license for opening or environmental compliance, nor were they registered in the industrial registry, according to sources from the Armed Institute.

Additionally, it was confirmed that the premises in the Alicante municipality lacked the mandatory mechanical workshop identification plaque. It also did not have the documentation to justify the proper management of hazardous waste generated by this activity, such as used oils, liquids, filters, batteries, or tires, the same sources added.

The Civil Guard emphasizes that depositing a vehicle in such a facility poses a serious threat to the environment, as well as a risk to the owner, who typically receives no formal estimate or guarantee of the repair or parts. In the event of a future claim, it would be nearly impossible to prove that the workshop's services were used.

The implicated individual, caught by Seprona members, denied conducting any commercial activity, claiming only to repair cars for family and friends. However, officers found up to seven vehicles in the process of repair inside a warehouse in Algorfa and another thirteen, along with a tow truck, outside, according to case sources.

The Civil Guard insists that waste from motor vehicles is "very dangerous" and must be handed over to an accredited manager who ensures its recycling or destruction through appropriate procedures. The primary goal is to prevent these wastes from being thrown into common trash or abandoned in green areas, causing environmental spills.

Economically, the illegal activity represents unfair competition that harms sector professionals who comply with regulations. Individuals also face additional problems from using parts that typically lack traceability.

The Civil Guard has already processed sanction files sent to the Algorfa Town Hall and the Generalitat Valenciana's Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, aiming for the administration to take measures against the offender. The affected individual, a 42-year-old resident of Torrevieja, faces fines ranging from 2,001 to 100,000 euros for infractions classified as serious, which may include, among other accessory measures, the closure of the premises, halting of activity, and even the obligation to restore environmental damage caused.

The alleged illegalities detected violate Law 6/2014, of July 25, on Prevention, Quality, and Environmental Control of Activities, of regional scope, and Law 7/2022, of April 8, on Waste and Contaminated Soils for a Circular Economy, of national scope, details the Benemérita.