Mossos d'Esquadra have filed 529 reports and immobilised 100 vehicles at Barcelona airport so far in 2026. The figure already exceeds the 747 from all of 2025.
Mossos d'Esquadra have intensified the hunt for so-called 'illegal taxis' at Barcelona-El Prat airport. In the first six months of 2026, the Catalan police have filed 529 reports and immobilised 100 vehicles operating without a licence, according to data provided by the force. This figure already represents 70% of the 747 sanctions from all of 2025.
A group of 12 agents monitors the terminals
Sub-inspector Marc Patxot, head of Traffic for the Southern Metropolitan Region, explained that the Mossos have a specific task force of about 12 agents who permanently patrol the airport. Their goal is to combat intrusions in passenger transport in vehicles with fewer than nine seats.
The agents carry out surprise checks, like the one this newspaper was able to witness, where they verify the license plates of vehicles entering the terminals. They cross-reference the data with a proprietary database created from previous reports and the entry and exit readers at the airport. This list includes around 200 suspicious vehicles that are believed to have committed infractions.
Fines of up to 4,001 euros and immobilised vehicles
The fines for drivers operating without any authorisation can reach 4,001 euros. Additionally, the vehicle is immobilised until the fine is paid. The Mossos process the corresponding administrative report and, in the most serious cases, the driver may face criminal consequences if they endanger passengers.
Recently, an illegal taxi driver recklessly accelerated with a family inside to avoid a police check, according to the Mossos. This type of situation, they explain, is what concerns agents the most, as passengers are the primary victims.
Intrusion, a headache for the sector
Catalonia has around 15,000 taxi licences, of which 10,517 correspond to the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB), and 3,981 interurban VTC authorisations. However, vehicles operate at the airport without any of these licences, causing serious harm to the legal sector. Intrusion leads to fierce unfair competition and, at times, situations of insecurity for travellers.
Illegal taxis often pose as VTC or use permits that are not valid for the airport. Passenger transport services at El Prat are carried out exclusively using AMB taxi licences and VTC authorisations managed by the Generalitat.
For residents of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona, the proliferation of these vehicles poses an added risk when taking transport from the airport. The Mossos recommend always hiring official services and verifying that the vehicle displays the corresponding licence. The police plan to maintain checks throughout the entire summer high season to curb the increase in demand.
