The National Police has arrested this Thursday 16 cab drivers operating at the airport of Seville as part of Operation Aertase, an investigation focused on irregularities related to the control of this lucrative stop. The operation, led by the Provincial Information Brigade, has been supported by the Citizen Security Brigade and the Police Intervention Unit (UIP).
Previous investigations and background in the guild
According to police sources, the arrests were carried out both in Seville capital and in nearby towns, and it is not ruled out that there will be more arrests in the coming days. This operation is not the first to point out irregularities in the cab sector linked to the airport. . Hace siete años, ocho taxistas de la Asociación Hispalense Solidaridad del Taxi fueron investigados por presuntos delitos de organización criminal, coacciones y daños. Sin embargo, ese caso fue archivado debido a la falta de pruebas concluyentes. En otro episodio ocurrido en 2017, nueve vehículos de la plataforma Cabify fueron incendiados en Castilblanco de los Arroyos. Aunque se investigó su posible vinculación con las disputas entre taxistas y conductores de VTC, el caso también terminó archivado, según ha informado El País.
Current charges and the development of the operation
Operation Aertase has once again put the spotlight on the airport cab union, which for years has been under suspicion for irregular practices in the management of the taxi rank. According to sources close to the case, the accusations could range from coercion to violent altercations and possible financial irregularities. The National Police have carried out searches at several key points, including homes and spaces related to the detained cab drivers, although no details have been provided so far about the material seized or the forthcoming legal actions.
A long-standing problem
The cab rank at the Seville airport, considered one of the most lucrative in the city, has been the subject of internal and external conflicts for years. On several occasions, confrontations between cab drivers and VTC drivers have been reported, as well as allegations of exclusionary practices towards other professionals in the sector. With this operation, the authorities seek to clarify the practices surrounding the guild in this area, as well as to dismantle possible networks of irregular actions that affect both users and the general operation of the transport service at the airport.
