New Ferry Route to Morocco
Naviera Armas will launch a new ferry route connecting Arrecife with Agadir in Morocco from May 2018. A new ferry, the Volcán de Tijarafe will operate on the route departing from Las Palmas every Friday, stopping at Arrecife before leaving for Agadir at 10am on Saturday. The Ferry will arrive in Agadir by mid-afternoon the same day. The return-leg sails from Agadir at 10pm, arriving in Arrecife at around 7am on Sunday.Increased Residents’ Discount on Inter-island Travel
The residents’ subsidy for inter-island travel flights and ferries has been increased to 75% of the ticket price. Since the increased discount came into effect on the 29th of June, Ferry and Flight Operators have reported a substantial increase in demand.
Imports up to €150 now exempt from IGIC
Imports of goods worth up to €150 are now exempt from IGIC (with certain exceptions). The measure, which was first proposed in 2016, took almost 18 months to be ratified due to the hung parliament in Spain. Until now, imports of items purchased online, even from EU countries, have been subject to IGIC (Sales Tax), and a corresponding administration fee from the courier, which often made the cost prohibitively high – sometimes exceeding the value of the goods themselves. The new exemption should make goods purchased from online retailers such as Amazon much cheaper for Canary Island Residents.
Flights Diverted
More than 20 flights had to be diverted from landing at Lanzarote Airport on the 24th of June due to powerful wind shears. The planes were redirected to Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife from 3.20 in the afternoon, and were unable to land in Lanzarote until 7pm.
Sperm Whale washed up near Costa Teguise
A dead Sperm Whale washed up on the shore at Las Caletas (just south of Costa Teguise) on the morning of the 27th of June. The 15 metre-long whale is thought to have been dead for several days. The Sperm Whale is the largest Toothed Predator on the planet and, although a threatened species, is relatively common in the waters around Lanzarote.
Guardia Civil Agent given Prison Sentence
The Supreme Court has upheld a sentence against a Guardia Civil Agent for embezzling drugs that he seized during operations in Lanzarote. The Agent has been sentenced to 21 months in prison, fined €1350 and suspended from public employment or service for a year and a half. The Agent seized 1.4 grams of cocaine on the 28th of April 2010, which he then kept. A further 16 grams of hashish, 1.7 grams of marijuana, and 0.5 grams of cocaine were found in his home. The defendant had appealed the sentence, claiming that he had been ‘set-up’, however the Canary Islands’ Supreme Court dismissed his claims and upheld the sentence.
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