• Holland And Barrett Vitamins Gibraltar Offer

Oct 02 - Passing Out Ceremony Held For New Customs Recruits

Thirty two new HM Customs recruits were honoured at a passing out ceremony following an extensive selection process.

The ceremony was held at Grand Battery House yesterday, and special guests included Interim Governor Alison MacMillan, Chief Minister Fabian Picardo as well as friends and families celebrating the occasion.

Collector of Customs John Rodriguez welcomed the new recruits to the second passing out ceremony of its kind, with the first one held in May.

The new recruits have endured a rigorous training programme over the past 11 weeks, learning the different aspects of duties expected of them as Customs officers, increasing the number of Customs officers from 101 to 167 this year.

Commenting on the work carried out by customs officers, Mr Picardo said: “I want to congratulate the recruits that are here today, now as customs officers, but say something about the families of new customs officers and existing customs officers.

“Very often we see our officers on the frontline, we see they are making very big sacrifices being out there when we are on holiday or enjoying ourselves.”

Mr Picardo also commended the work carried out by Customs officers and said he was “overjoyed” to hear that RGP and Customs had seized 67 bales of cannabis off Eastern Beach on Wednesday evening.

He added: “That represents a huge amount of drugs that are now off the streets, a big dent in the drug trafficker budget. This is a large amount, not just of drugs but a large amount of money that will not go back in the drug trade.”

During his speech, he also welcomed the news of the new governor post being taken up by Lieutenant General Edward Davis in the new year.

{fcomment}