Police in Lanzarote have stopped an unlicensed taxi carrying five passengers through central Arrecife in the early hours of the morning. Four people were squeezed into the back of the small car, including one travelling on their knees because there were not enough seats.

The Local Police stopped the Citroën C3 at around 5.30am on 15th July after officers noticed that the driver appeared nervous. Another passenger was sitting in the front alongside him.

The driver was a 59-year-old Arrecife resident who initially claimed the passengers were his friends. However, he was unable to identify them by name, and their accounts did not match his explanation.

The passengers told officers they had been waiting for a taxi when the driver approached and offered to take them to their destination for the same price or slightly less than an official taxi.

When questioned again, the driver admitted that he was charging for the journey. He also acknowledged that he had provided similar unauthorised services on previous occasions.

Arrecife Council is now processing the police report so the relevant authority can impose a penalty for operating illegally within the public passenger transport sector.

Unlicensed taxi services are not subject to the same checks and regulations as authorised operators.