Spaniards arrested in joint Guardia Civil and RGP operation

(Gibraltar Chronicle) Royal Gibraltar Police and Guardia Civil officers raced in a joint effort to catch a suspected smuggler at sea on Thursday, it has emerged. As a result of information received, RGP officers arrested Spaniard José Antonio López Lara, 34, of Puente Mayorga, San Roque, after a chase at sea involving both the RGP Marine Section and Guardia Civil launches. Lopez Lara was arrested for landing in Gibraltar without a valid permit after being stopped at Sir Herbert Miles Road, in the area of Sandy Bay. Police officers recovered six mobile phones, 1 radio transceiver, 1 hand held GPS satnav and 1 satellite phone, all housed in waterproof aquapacs.>

The detained vessel, which is classified as a fast launch and therefore a prohibited import because of its specifications (an 8 metre Narwheel super 800 semi rigid, with 2 x 200hp V6 Yamaha outboard engines), made its way, during the chase, into Puerto Chico, in La Atunara, where it was seized and its three other male occupants arrested by the Spanish authorities.

Lopez Lara, who was arrested in Gibraltar, was later charged with: importing a prohibited import, namely, the fast launch; non-Gibraltarian landing in Gibraltar without a valid permit; non-Gibraltarian found in Gibraltar without a valid permit; possession of a transceiver without a valid licence.

He was kept in custody, and at his court appearance pleaded guilty and was fined £2000 or 70 days imprisonment in default of paying the fine in respect of the illegal importation of the fast launch, and was also fined £100 for possession of a radio transceiver without a licence and a further £100 for being non-Gibraltarian found in Gibraltar without a valid permit (documentation).

'Free' launch

RGP are carrying out minor repairs to the RHIB they confiscated this week after the Guardia Civil incident resulted in two men being fined for the illegal import. The vessel is said to have been at the top of its class and will soon appear around Gibraltar bearing the police emblem!