Police Nab Mallorca Fugitive in Teide National Park
La Orotava police, investigating suspicious activity in Teide National Park, arrested a 36-year-old Romanian man wanted by a Palma de Mallorca court.
Police officers from La Orotava, who were on duty in Teide National Park, noticed some individuals acting suspiciously around parked cars near Minas de San José. When officers investigated, they discovered a surprise: one of the people was wanted by a court in Palma de Mallorca. This incident took place on the afternoon of Saturday, November 1st, as reported by the local police force.
As the La Orotava police approached the Minas de San José car park, a popular spot for visitors, one of the individuals among the vehicles suddenly ran off. Officers caught and detained him, then checked his identification. They found that the 36-year-old man, of Romanian nationality, was wanted by the Palma court for outstanding legal issues. He has since been handed over to the judiciary to face the charges pending in the Balearic Islands.
La Orotava's local police are among several agencies, including the Civil Guard, Canarian Police, and environmental agents, that help patrol Tenerife's Teide National Park. This assistance is crucial due to the park's limited staff, which currently consists of only three members to oversee an area of 189 square kilometers.
To address the numerous traffic violations and vehicle thefts in Teide National Park, La Orotava City Council is implementing new measures. These include a permanent tow truck, increased fines, and more local police officers. It's worth noting that most of these violations occur within the municipality of La Orotava, which covers the largest portion of the 13 municipalities that the park spans.
Narciso Pérez, La Orotava's Security Councillor, stated that these actions are "under study" and are being carried out "in coordination" with the Tenerife Island Council. This is part of a broader effort by local authorities to enhance surveillance in the island's most protected natural area.
The council has commissioned a study to determine the appropriate cost for towing vehicles from Teide. "It's not the same to remove a vehicle in the main towns of the municipality as it is in the national park, so we are going to increase the cost," assured the Security Councillor. The distance between La Orotava's town center and the UNESCO World Heritage site is more than 40 kilometers.