19 arrested in police operation against street vendors in Salou

A joint operation by Catalonia's Mossos d'Esquadra and Spain's National Police targeting illegal street vendors (known as top manta) in Salou has resulted in nineteen arrests and the seizure of a large quantity of counterfeit goods.

Eighteen of the individuals were arrested on suspicion of belonging to a criminal organization and violating industrial property laws while another was detained for disturbing the peace.

Around a dozen searches were carried out in homes and warehouses in southern Catalonia – six in the coastal town of Salou, and others in Reus and Les Borges del Camp.

During the police operation, a group of street vendors threw stones at the police line, resulting in minor injuries to three officers and damage to both police and private vehicles.

300 officers

The operation, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning, was directed against a criminal group involved in the sale and distribution of counterfeit goods.

It involved some 300 officers, a police helicopter and drones.

The investigation remains ongoing, according to the Mossos d'Esquadra. 

Earlier raid 

Earlier in June, Guardia Civil police conducted a similar operation, raiding two warehouses used by street vendors to store goods.

In anticipation of possible unrest, the Mossos deployed units to prevent tensions escalating.

Dozens of vendors protested, throwing objects and blocking a road in Salou.

The protest was called off after on-site mediation by Salou's local police and the Mossos d’Esquadra.

Salou City Council ruled out any political or police-level negotiations with representatives of the street vendors, stating in a press release that there was "nothing to negotiate regarding an activity that is manifestly illegal."

No warehouse

The Salou mayor, Pere Granados, denied that there are any warehouses in the city with material to be sold as top manta. The mayor said so after a security meeting on Tuesday, hours after the police operation.

The meeting was already scheduled before the operation, which was the second one in two weeks.

Granados acknowledged that just before summer, having this vast police operations at Salou "is not the most convenient timing," but he is not worried about it.