(Agencies / photo: Gibraltar Chronicle) The Servicio de Vigilancia Aduanera (SVA, Spanish Customs police) reported yesterday that one of its launches pursued a suspected drug smuggler deep into Gibraltar waters on Saturday. The suspected dory sped towards Spain from Morocco and managed to slip into Gibraltar harbour, where a Royal Gibraltar Police patrol boat joined in the chase, whereupon the SVA immediately withdrew. The RGP subsequently arrested Estepona resident Francisco Tapia Apresa, 49, and charged him with importation, possession and possession with intent to supply 22.3 kilos of cannabis resin.>Reports indicate that the SVA had not alerted the Rock authorities prior to its incursion into Gib waters; RGP sources declined to comment on the incident although it is standard practice for the British embassy in Madrid to raise such incidents formally with the Spanish government whenever they occur. The incursion comes a fortnight after officials from Gibraltar, Spain and the UK met in Algeciras to discuss judicial and law enforcement issues under the framework of the tripartite forum.
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