The Chief Minister Fabian Picardo appeared on Sky News this morning, condemning the “unnecessary” Spanish Guardia Civil and Customs incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters yesterday.

Speaking from Halkidiki, Greece, Mr Picardo said this incident was “regretful, in particular because one of the drug smugglers got away”. He said: “The only people who will win are the criminals.”

He added that there is a clear signal that the Spanish authorities believe Gibraltar doesn’t have its own waters, and this is why they failed to inform local authorities of this incident.

Mr Picardo added that Gibraltar makes no complaints when Royal Gibraltar Police, Spanish Guardia Civil and the Moroccan authorities frequently work together to combat drug smuggling operations taking place in the Straits of Gibraltar, to stop drugs entering Europe from North Africa.

He said it is up to the Spanish authorities contacting the Gibraltar police and customs to order arrest these people in Gibraltar waters, and in this instance they were acting illegally by failing to notify Gibraltar authorities of their presence.

When asked whether it could be that the Spanish Customs were not aware they were in Gibraltar waters, Mr Picardo said: “I don’t think you can get lost in the Straits of Gibraltar when you see the monolithic Rock of Gibraltar which is obvious, even when it is lit up at night. I think the Spanish law enforcement know exactly what they were doing.”

He added that Gibraltar looks to the United Kingdom to protect its sovereignty and perimeter of Gibraltar as they see necessary. 

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