Ta' Dirjanu's cab firm risks suspension after ‘garage’ turns out to be empty lot

Transport Malta has given one of the country’s largest cab operators 10 days to comply with regulations after discovering that the site registered as its public service garage was actually a disused industrial space.

Agius Trading, which operates around 190 cars on apps like Bolt, eCabs and Uber, has 10 days from Tuesday to appeal the decision or regularise its operations by offering an alternative site, according to sources at the transport authority.

If it does not do so, Transport Malta will suspend the company from the ride-hailing apps, sources said.

The company is owned by Gozitan mega-developer and supermarket owner Mark Agius, known as Ta’ Dirjanu.

By law, cab fleets with more than five cars must have a registered public service garage to store vehicles. The Transport Malta investigation showed that the listed garage for Agius Trading’s fleet in Marsa did not exist.

The site, however, does have an approved Planning Authority permit – PA/03721/24 – and, once built, the multi-floor garage complex will be able to hold some 300 cars.

Asked earlier this month about the garage, a spokesperson for the company said construction on the public service garage will be completed by March 2026 and will also include a car wash and facilities for workers, including showers and a canteen.

“Until works are completed the cars are being held in two car parks licensed for commercial use that is privately owned by one of our companies. Both locations are in an industrial area, permitted for commercial use and not having any impact on residential areas,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that Transport Malta was informed of the temporary location being used and the timeline of works.

By law, cab fleets with more than five cars must have a registered public service garage to store vehicles

Times of Malta asked Transport Malta to confirm this but did not receive a reply at the time of writing.

In September, Times of Malta reported how Agius Trading had found a way to employ new third-country national drivers despite a government moratorium on hiring new foreign cabbies.

They did this by acquiring a temporary work permit, commonly known as a ‘blue paper’, for their newly hired personnel who are already based in Malta.

That month, Times of Malta also reported how dozens of TCNs listed their addresses at properties owned by Agius and another well-known associate of his, Daniel Refalo, even though the non-EU nationals did not live there.

The Transport Malta action comes seven months after the authority took similar measures against Malta’s biggest

Y-plate fleet, WT Global, and several other operators whose public service garages turned out to be fields, stores and shops.

In January, 500 Y-plate cabs were taken off the road after inspectors found that addresses listed as public service garages were actually fields, stores and shops.

However, the companies managed to persuade a magistrate to return their operator’s licence while the court decides if their licence was fairly suspended.

The fleets have now returned to the country’s roads.