Aug 11 - European Anti-Fraud Office Report Raises Concerns Over Smuggling
Following claims by Spanish news outlet ‘El Pais’ that Spain’s High Court is to investigate tobacco smuggling and money due to the recommendation of European Anti-Fraud Office OLAF, the department has confirmed that they did in fact complete an investigation in the South of Spain covering the issues that surround tobacco smuggling in the area, including organized crime.
GBC has reported that OLAF’s report was initiated last Summer, following complaints surrounding the increase of tobacco smuggling across the frontier from 2009 to 2013.
El Pais claims that OLAF sent inspectors to Gibraltar on three occassions, as from September of last year. The findings, the Newspaper claims, are being considered a victory for Spanish authorities ‘who say that they justify the border checks’.
GBC insists that OLAF’s investigation did raise concern over the increase in tobacco smuggling in the area. OLAF will not take any further action on the matter, their report however, does recommend the initiation of judicial proceedings.
