In the period January to December 2021, the RGP’s Drug Squad seized over £22,000,000 of drugs, as well as over 4,000 litres of fuel intended for use by drug  smuggling gangs. 

A statement from the RGP follows below:

The biggest single drug seizure took place on 18 August, following the high speed  pursuit of a RHIB off the western side of the Rock. With the assistance of the  Customs vessel HMC Searcher, four individuals were arrested and a total of 654  bales were recovered. These bales contained approximately 2.6 tonnes of cannabis  with a street value of around £13 million. 

Earlier in the year, a smugglers’ RHIB was forced to run aground at Eastern Beach  following a sea chase in very bad weather. In this operation, approximately 1.3  tonnes of cannabis resin were seized with a street value of about £6.5 million. With  the co-operation of Spanish authorities, Mourad BOULAICH MEHAMDI was stopped  and arrested at the frontier. He has since pleaded Guilty to Possession with Intent to  Supply a Class B Drug and he is due to be sentenced next month. Resulting directly  from their cooperation with the RGP, the Guardia Civil were able to carry out further  operations in the Campo area in which they seized drugs valued at approximately  £7.5m. 

Also in January of last year, information was received of a ‘parasite’ device having  been fixed to the hull of M/V Ocean Clarion, which had just crossed the Atlantic  Ocean from a port in Colombia. The Drug Squad team, supported by officers from  HM Customs and other RGP departments, boarded the ship whilst it was at anchor  within BGTW. From the exterior of the hull of this vessel, officers seized the device  which contained 25 kilograms of Cocaine with a street value of about £2 million. As  the ship’s crew were not complicit in this crime, the ship was permitted to continue  on its journey. 

On 4 March, Drug Squad Detectives conducted a search of the area of Eastern  Beach and the surrounding worksite at British Lines Road. Supported by Gibraltar  Defence Police and HM Customs Officers, as well as uniformed RGP Officers,  discovered three concealed bales of cannabis resin with a value of about £450,000.

In addition to the drugs themselves, the Drug Squad also impounded a van  containing a 1,000-litre industrial ‘IBC’ container, which was being used for storage  of illicit fuel used in support of Drug Trafficking. During the year as a whole, the team  also seized over 200 fuel containers and over 4,000 litres of fuel – all intended for  use by the criminal fraternity. 

“As with most years, we were grateful for the support of the Spanish authorities in  much of our work and, of course, we operated closely with HM Customs and the  GDP,” said Sgt Gerry Martinez of the RGP Drug Squad.  

“We now also work closely with our Economic Crime Unit – we have be able to seize  high value assets such as cars and jewellery from convicted drug smugglers and  money launderers. 

“During last year, the tight Covid restrictions imposed by the Moroccan authorities  had the effect of reducing the flow of large scale drug movements across the Strait  and this allowed us to concentrate more of our attention on street suppliers within  Gibraltar. During the year, we carried out over 20 successful operations against  these criminals who bring such significant harm to our community. The RGP will  continue to challenge drugs trafficking activity and all its associated criminality.” 

Commissioner of Police Richard Ullger said, 

“The fight against drugs is one of the RGP’s top priorities and I am extremely  pleased with the results we achieved last year. Much of this success came as a  result of the excellent cooperation we received from our partner law enforcement  agencies – both within Gibraltar and across the border. 

“Early in 2021, we were delighted when Parliament amended the Petroleum Act to  tighten laws on the storage, transportation and possession of petrol. Recent  experience has shown that fuel stored in containers is often used to refuel drug  trafficking launches but, whatever its purposes, it can also pose a fire risk to vehicles  and residential properties. 

“Everyone in our community can be assured that, in 2022, we will continue to target those involved in all aspects of drug-related crime.”