RGP seizes drugs worth £1.8m
Archive image of the police interceptor Sir John Chapple, which was involved in a fatal collision in 2020.
The Royal Gibraltar Police Marine Section officers recovered a total of 12 bales of cannabis resin weighing 360 kilograms following a high speed chase in British waters off the east side of the Rock.
Crew on the RGP Interceptor “Sir John Chapple” detected and challenged a radar contact south of Europa Point during a routine patrol early this morning.
The suspect vessel, a 10m rigid-hull inflatable boat crewed by four occupants, was loaded with cannabis bales.
The smugglers performed evasive manoeuvres while its occupants jettisoned several bales as they fled east into the Mediterranean, where the RGP interceptor discontinued its pursuit.
An extensive search of the area resulted with officers recovering 12 bales of cannabis resin, with a total street value of approximately £1.8m.
Commenting on the seizure, Commissioner of Police Eddie Yome highlighted the increased number of high speed maritime pursuits during the past few months, in particular during the recent Christmas period, and expressed his admiration for the work regularly undertaken by RGP Marine Section officers day and night "in what are clearly hostile and dangerous conditions".
He added that in partnership with local and regional law enforcement counterparts, the RGP would continue to challenge every attempt made to introduce illicit drugs into Western Europe across the Strait of Gibraltar.
