Operation against the lucrative 'top manta' business on the beaches of a municipality in Alicante

Plainclothes and uniformed officers from the Guardia Civil and the Local Police of Calp have launched a police operation against the illegal sale and counterfeiting of products on the beaches of the municipality of Peñón de Ifach. This action is part of a preventive and deterrent campaign that will continue during the spring and summer of 2025 in the fight against illegal street vending, as announced by the Town Hall.

In the police operation, which included the assistance of a UMAC Drone (Aerial Media Unit of the Local Police of Calp), officers from the Guardia Civil's Main Post and the specialized unit that monitors borders and controls fiscal matters in our country, known by the acronym Pafif (Fiscal and Borders Patrol), as well as the UTAI and UscCalp units of the municipal force, participated. In total, more than 25 officers from both forces took part in this deployment across the Levante and Poniente beaches.

As a result of the operation, five vehicles used as alleged warehouses, 180 leather goods, 212 t-shirts, 38 swimsuits, 12 caps, and 291 pairs of sneakers, all counterfeit items with a potential market value of 15,000 euros, were seized, counting only the confiscated material, plus the value of the immobilized vehicles. Additionally, the identified sellers were reported to the competent authorities.

The Councillor for Citizen Security of the Calp Town Hall, Guillermo Sendra Guardiola, expressed great satisfaction with the good relationship and spirit of collaboration and cooperation between the Guardia Civil and the Local Police. "The fact that both forces work together and combine efforts and resources translates into increased security for the people of Calp and visitors," the Calp councillor remarked.

The municipal ordinance prohibits both street vending and the purchase of these products, so the local government's commitment is not only focused on enforcing the law but also on raising community awareness about the risks and implications of supporting this type of illegal trade.