In a serious incident, a Customs Officer received minor injuries as he attempted to stop a suspect vehicle in a carpark on Europort Avenue in the early hours of Sunday morning. The driver, identified as a 39 year old local man, sped off when he was approached by officers of HM Customs, driving into one of the officers and colliding with, and causing damage to, a stationary vehicle. Officers of the Royal Gibraltar Police later located and arrested the man who has been released on bail until Nov 21st. Investigation into the matter is ongoing. Fortunately the injuries sustained were slight and the officer is making a good recovery.

HM Customs have also seized over 63,000 cigarettes and made a number of arrests in three separate incidents.

A locally registered vehicle was searched by Customs in the area of Europort Avenue. It was found to contain 50,000 cigarettes (250 cartons). Investigation into the incident is ongoing and a local man is assisting with enquiries. The vehicle has been detained by HM Customs.

Elsewhere, two Spanish nationals were detained by HM Customs at Western Beach. The men were intercepted as they made their way north towards the frontier fence and were arrested after being found in possession of 9,920 cigarettes (nearly fifty cartons). The two men, a 54 year old and a 24 year old, are both residents of La Linea and have been bailed to surrender on December 18th. The cigarettes have been seized by HM Customs.

In a third, unrelated incident, officers of HM Customs attended the north end of Eastern Beach and challenged a 19 year old Spanish woman who was seen acting suspiciously in the area. A search of a holdall she was carrying resulted in the detection of 3,400 cigarettes (17 cartons), for which the La Linea resident was arrested. She has been bailed to surrender on Dec 19th the cigarettes have been seized by HM Customs.