09.08.09 - 18:23 -
For the rest of the world it may be the first swallow that signals the onset of summer, but here on the Costa it is the arrival of the "lookie lookie" men (and women). Street hawkers have long been a fact of Costa life and this year, with the rise in unemployment and a steady stream of "sin papeles" their numbers have soared.
For many, the day starts at 11 a.m. on the beaches working the tourists as they lay on their sunbeds, catching them as they breakfast in the bars. Then around two, they head for the ‘chiringuitos’ to catch the lunchtime crowd and from there into the towns plying their wares at the restaurants and bars.
Most of what they sell is counterfeit, DVDs, CDs, watches etc. and their target is usually the tourists who flock to the Costas. These days the availability of bootleg goods is endless and easy to obtain, which means the "Mochileros", as they are called, have an endless supply to sell. The police admit that the problem this year is overwhelming, Marbella and Fuengirola alone more than 300 street hawkers have been arrested.
Arrest and release
If you were to stand on the promenade in any of the tourist towns you would see eight or ten of these itinerant sellers pass you by every hour and, with a revolving door system of arrest and release, the numbers aren’t getting any smaller. Arrested, into court, fined between 50 and 100 euros and out again, all in the same day in most cases, it is hardly a deterrent. And if the court decides this is the only means of support, the fines will not be imposed.
If you were to stand on the promenade in any of the tourist towns you would see eight or ten of these itinerant sellers pass you by every hour and, with a revolving door system of arrest and release, the numbers aren’t getting any smaller. Arrested, into court, fined between 50 and 100 euros and out again, all in the same day in most cases, it is hardly a deterrent. And if the court decides this is the only means of support, the fines will not be imposed.
For the Police who have to enforce the law it is an uneasy balance. On one side are the interests of the markets and businesses and on the other the public who buy from the Mochileros. On some occasions they are seen as the bad guys by all concerned.
Proliferation
Recent police operations in Marbella and Fuengirola were brought about by the proliferation of hawkers in the towns. Already some 200 people have been arrested on the Golden Mile and over 100 in Fuengirola for selling illegal goods and with the other main Costa towns the figure reaches 300. In Fuengirola almost 175,000 articles have been seized. One worrying aspect is the increase in the sale of toys. In Estepona Chinese street vendors were selling toys which had not passed any health and safety controls, resulting in immediate police intervention.
Recent police operations in Marbella and Fuengirola were brought about by the proliferation of hawkers in the towns. Already some 200 people have been arrested on the Golden Mile and over 100 in Fuengirola for selling illegal goods and with the other main Costa towns the figure reaches 300. In Fuengirola almost 175,000 articles have been seized. One worrying aspect is the increase in the sale of toys. In Estepona Chinese street vendors were selling toys which had not passed any health and safety controls, resulting in immediate police intervention.
