Santa Cruz Police Monitor Unlicensed Tuk-Tuk Operation

Santa Cruz de Tenerife's local police are keeping an eye on a tuk-tuk company operating in the city without the necessary permits.

The issue came to light last Tuesday when police stopped one of the three-wheeled vehicles, which are meant to offer cheap rides to tourists, in the city centre. This move has upset local taxi companies, Élite and La Gremial, who reported the unlicensed operation. The company also lacks approval from the Tenerife Island Council.

Sources from the Local Police confirmed that the company is being monitored after the Santa Cruz City Council's Mobility department notified them. The department has not authorised tuk-tuks to carry passengers or park on public land in the city.

Although the vehicle carrying five passengers was stopped, no fines were issued because the occupants were company staff. They were asked for their documents, and while the vehicle itself was road-legal, it did not have permission to operate commercially. The occupants claimed they were in the process of getting a license. A report has been sent to the Mobility department.

The head of the Mobility department, Evelyn Alonso, stated that the City Council has not granted any tuk-tuk company permission to operate in the capital. She added that the Local Police have been instructed to issue fines if they see tuk-tuks operating illegally.

Alonso also mentioned that a request made in November for tuk-tuks to reserve parking on public land was denied because the company did not have operating authorisation. No further requests have been made since then.

This newspaper has learned that the company behind this service is called Toke Tuk, part of Tokenix, and is registered at the Nuestra Señora de África shopping centre. The company's project, established in September and registered in November, involves passenger transport by motor vehicles like mopeds and motorcycles.

While the company's website is currently down, its Instagram page suggests plans to operate in several towns across the island, including Santa Cruz, La Laguna, Adeje, and Puerto de la Cruz. It is advertised as a "100% electric, sustainable tourist experience backed by blockchain," where people can invest from as little as 50 euros.

Tokenix is known for real estate tokenisation and is now promoting this tuk-tuk service. The model involves attracting digital investors who buy tokens, giving them a share of the business and a percentage of its profits.

The company plans to have a fleet of 20 vehicles across the operating areas, with five in Santa Cruz. These vehicles are reportedly stored in a garage on Milicias de Garachico street and are intended to offer tourist tours at around 100 euros. According to the company's investor presentations, they anticipate annual revenues of 1.8 million euros.