Oct 18 - Huge Haul of 250,000 Cigarettes Seized by Customs and RGP
As a result of operations carried out by both the RGP and Customs officials recently, almost 252,000 cigarettes have been seized. Yesterday, RGP officers executed a Search Warrant under the Tobacco Act, in a flat at Faulkner House Laguna Estate and found 150,000 cigarettes. 49-year-old Michelle Vella of 10 Kings House Laguna Estate was charged with possession of 145,000 of the cigarettes, along with Victoria Perez Aguiler, aged 36 and Melissa Palma, also aged 36. All three women were also charged with being knowingly concerned in the attempted exportation of a commercial quantity of tobacco. Palam was further charged with the possession of a further 5,000 cigarettes. The women were bailed out to appear before the Magistrates Court this morning.
A separate case saw officers of the RGP Marine Section arrested two Spanish Nationals on board a small vessel just off the South Mole for being in Possession and exportation of 33000 cigarettes.
The said Spanish Nationals, namely Bartolome Aijon Pena of La Linea, aged 33 years and Salvador Guerrero Cortes of La Linea, aged 41 years were taken to Police Headquarters where they were duly processed and charged.
They were both bailed out to appear at the Magistrates Court this morning.
Customs Officials also seized 10,000 cigarettes concealed in the area surrounding Western Beach this week. In another incident, officers on a routine patrol spotted three men near the frontier fence at the northern end of Eastern Beach. When challenged, the men ran towards the fence, entered the water and swam to Spain where they were intercepted by the Spanish Law Enforcement authorities. An area search was conducted which resulted in the detection of a number of bags containing 23,800 cigarettes buried in the sand some meters south of the fence.
In a third incident, officers of HM Customs witnessed two men at British Lines Road attempting to throw large bags over the frontier fence. As they approached, the men dropped the bags and made good their escape over the fence to Spain. A Spanish registered car was searched and 15,000 cigarettes were detected.
Customs officials seized the vehicle and all cigarettes found during these incidents. Several lines of enquiry are being pursued.
