19 year old local man arrested on suspicion of assisting illegal immigration

A 19-year-old local man has been arrested on suspicion of assisting illegal immigration following an incident at sea involving the Royal Gibraltar Police, Customs and the Guardia Civil. 

Two Spanish-registered vessels, each crewed by two people, had been pursued by Spanish authorities into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters over their alleged involvement in illicit migrant smuggling activities.

At around 6pm, police received information from a member of the public that a Guardia Civil vessel was towing a boat which had been abandoned within Gibraltar Harbour waters after its occupants jumped ashore near Peter Isola Promenade.

RGP land and marine units responded, with officers recovering the vessel from the Guardia Civil within BGTW.

Police subsequently arrested a 19-year-old local man on suspicion of assisting illegal immigration. He and the seized vessel remain in police custody.

Meanwhile, HM Customs stopped the second vessel being pursued by the Spanish authorities and detained its two occupants while the boat was searched and documentation checked. They were later released.

Earlier, the Government said it had received reports and video showing a Guardia Civil vessel entering Gibraltar waters and described the developing incident as “potentially very serious”.

Meetings took place this afternoon as the Government and the Convent worked together with the law enforcement agencies and the port to establish the facts.

The entry into BGTW has been deemed an incursion.

The RGP investigation remains ongoing.