OLAF confirms conclusion of smuggling report, and 'organised crime' concerns

Date: 11 August 2014 at 09:22

The European Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF, has confirmed to GBC it has completed an investigation into tobacco smuggling in the South of Spain, and its link to the Gibraltar border. In a press statement, OLAF says one of the concerns raised in the report includes the indications of the involvement of organised crime. The Office, however, says it will not be making its report public, and that its up to prosecution services in Spain and Gibraltar to now follow this up
GBC | Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation

I think it is necessary to take the two posts in context.

One says the controls at the frontier are disproportionate and the other refers to smuggling across the whole of Southern Spain.

If the frontier controls are disproportionate then I don't think the reference to organised crime is referring to the frontier or at least not the frontier alone.

More than likely this is to do with imports into Spain of container loads of goods or as happens the failure to export by ways of dodgy paperwork.

P.S. Thanks la mancha
The other response was no more than expected

If I am tweedledee you must be tweedledum(b).

Some of you must have seen the following on the BBC News and unfortunately it may even affect you.

NHS says no to new breast cancer drug Kadcyla
BBC News - NHS says no to new breast cancer drug Kadcyla

However here in Gib

Aug 11 - GHA Approves Breast Cancer Drug that NHS Believes to be Too Expensive

Monday, 11 August

In a statement issued earlier today, the GHA has announced that it will be funding the prescription drug Kadcyla, which can extend patients suffering with breast cancer's lives by up to 6 months. Dr John Cortes, Minister for Health said "The GHA strives as far as possible to exceed UK guidelines as we aim to achieve ever better standards and services."

The NHS has adhered to the recommendation of NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and decided not to fund the drug due to it's "High Cost".

The NICE guidelines are normally implemented here in Gibralar, but on this occasion, the Government of Gibraltar has decided to fund the use of the dug and the GHA will "allow its prescrioption based, not on cost, but on clinical need".

Dr John Cortes proudly stated that "Already some of our screening programmes are among the best in the world. In the case of this new drug, provided it is clinically indicated, it will be the patient's need, not the cost, that will prevail."

The GHA will be informing its staff and UK centres to which it refers patients to the decision.

Aug 11 - GHA Approves Breast Cancer Drug that NHS Believes to be Too Expensive








Read more: Aug 11 - GHA Approves Breast Cancer Drug that NHS Believes to be Too Expensive
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Aug 11 - Government Welcomes OLAF Report - Calls Upon Spain to Take Action


The Government this afternoon compiled a response to the announcement of the OLAF report on tobacco smuggling, claiming that the issues identified by the EU’s Anti Fraud Office are welcomed.

In a call for joint investigations the Government insisted that Gibraltar already acts to curtail the size of the cigarette market and the Gibraltar authorities are ready to work with the Spanish counterparts. They went on to note that none of this should affect frontier flow for law-abiding citizens.

A statement released by the Government reads as follows; ‘The Government has this afternoon received a copy of said report and passed it to the Collector of Customs of HM Customs Gibraltar for further consideration and any appropriate action that may be required. The report is confidential and cannot be published for operational reasons.

’The particular facts identified by OLAF specifically also point to instances that could constitute criminal offences in Spanish territory - of smuggling and potential money laundering. The Spanish Government has not wanted to point this out in its very one-sided and obviously self-serving public statements on the report, which - although designed as a serious document to assist law enforcement (which is how Gibraltar will treat it) - is being exploited by Spain for its own transparent political purposes.

‘The Collector of Customs and the Royal Gibraltar Police have already provided their contact details via the EU Commission and have already sought to contact Spanish Officials to co-ordinate the fight against tobacco smuggling in Southern Spain, but have as yet had no replies to these offers of assistance.

‘The OLAF conclusions rightly point to the prevalence of organised criminal gangs operating in Spain in the business of tobacco smuggling, something which the Gibraltar authorities have previously publicly expressed serious concerns about.

‘Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar therefore now invites the Government of the Kingdom of Spain to finally allow it's law enforcement agencies to co-operate with those in Gibraltar that stand ready to work to together with them to counter the threat to law-abiding citizens on both sides of the frontier from these gangs operating in Spanish territory.

‘In this respect, the OLAF report identifies the inadequacy of Spanish legislation dealing with tobacco smuggling as well as the deprived economic circumstances prevalent in Andalucia as central problems which have led to the proliferation of this activity since 2010.

‘The Gibraltar Government has already amended Gibraltar legislation and made it much tougher in order to dissuade people from breaking the law. Spain should do likewise.

‘It is important to clarify that the OLAF report comes in the context of the Gibraltar Government having already, of its own motion, and without being required to do so, introduced measures:

- to limit the total amount of tobacco that can be sold; - to alert individuals to their "duty free" allowances;

- to limit the quantities that can be possessed in restricted zones, in particular by the airport and frontier;

- to prohibit the sale of tobacco in estates near the frontier (including the withdrawal of existing licences);

- to direct the Trade Licensing Authority not to issue further retail or wholesale licences, as more particularly set out in that public direction; and

- to voluntarily limit the size of the Gibraltar market in cigarettes to a quantity in keeping with Commission/OLAF recommendations.

‘All of the above measures have already come into effect (with limitations on the size of the market commencing 1st January 2015) and the relevant measures have been notified to the EU Commission.

‘In this respect the EU Commission wrote to Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar via UK Rep in Brussels on 30th July 2014 with its further recommendations. A copy of that letter is attached hereto for public information.

‘In the circumstances, the OLAF report - which predates the Commission statement of last week - has no bearing on and cannot in any way derogate from the Commission's statement the queues caused by Spain at the frontier with Gibraltar are entirely 'disproportionate' and must be resolved.

‘Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar has complied with all the EU Commission's recommendations and will continue to so comply.

‘Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar invites the Government of the Kingdom of Spain to similarly publish the letters it has received from the EU Commission on issues relating to frontier flow and cigarette smuggling controls.

‘Finally, Her Majesty's Government of Gibraltar notes that there is no similarity between the OLAF reported remitted to it and the sensationalist reports spun in the Spanish media.’

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo commented on the matter noting that Spain needs to do its bit too now. He added, ‘we have been and are always ready to work with their law enforcement agencies. We have sent contact details of our relevant officers for action to be co-ordinated against the organised criminal gangs operating in Spain, but there has as yet been no contact from the Spanish authorities. Gibraltar's authorities are transparent, accountable and looking for co-operation and mutual legal assistance. We wish any necessary investigations in this and in all areas to be carried out jointly between the competent Spanish and Gibraltar authorities in a genuine spirit of co-operation.’

Aug 11 - Government Welcomes OLAF Report - Calls Upon Spain to Take Action

I think the UK should limit tobacco imports by tourists from all countries to 200 ciggies etc.
Then there would be little to moan about. People used to come to my bar boasting of having taken back 13K ciggies to the UK every month. From the Canaries! Sometimes the used to get caught and they were confiscated then they did another quickie the following week to another UK airport.

Tobacco Smuggling Scenes Being Staged by Antenna 3

Wednesday, 13 August 2014

The Government has noted suggestions that Spanish television channel Antenna 3 has been staging tobacco smuggling scenes.

They insist that it is appropriate to warn the public on the matter, given the ‘rabid and un-objective coverage presently being afforded to Gibraltar and the issue of tobacco smuggling in the Spanish media generally’.

The matter was picked up on social media, where photographic evidence has been provided. Just this morning, Spanish television news outlets directed their attention to the frontier once more.

Aug 13 - Tobacco Smuggling Scenes Being Staged by Antenna 3

And yesterday (12th) morning at 9:00. The basic news was correct and appeared unbiased. Then there was an item about smuggling and the showed the "Police" uncovering large quantities of cigarettes in cars and scooters. the service ended with a statement that for the numbers of cigarettes sold in Gib each Gibraltarian would have to smoke 180 per day.
Here in Torremolinos I see many Brits buying 5 or more cartons to take back to the UK. They don´t seem to mind that at all. Who knows how many ciggies we smoke here or in Benalmadena statistically.

What most of these anti Gib propagandist always fail to mention is the legitimate trade DUTY FREE to the shipping that calls at Gibraltar which must add up substantially.
Also apart from the basic shipping there are the cruise liners, today the Oceana, main street is awash with people rushing from one booze and tobacco seller to the next comparing prices before they head back aboard with substantial purchase, all duty paid but still cheap.

UK 'optimistic' about ad hoc talks but Spain's tripartite 'red line' remains

Date: 13 August 2014

There's no way Spain will take part in talks in which Gibraltar has the same status as Spain and the UK. That's according to Spanish diplomatic sources quoted by Europa Press. While the British Government is said to be optimistic that ad hoc talks could be held soon, Spain is reportedly insisting that the tripartite formula continues to be a "red line" for Madrid, and that if Gibraltar participates so too must the local or regional competent authority for Spain.

Europa Press suggests that if ad hoc working groups can be established they will not deal with the sovereignty dispute, but rather concentrate on issues like fishing, tobacco smuggling and the Spanish frontier checks

GBC | Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation

VIDEO: Chief Minister says OLAF report vindicates everything Government has done to combat tobacco smuggling

The OLAF report concludes that the tobacco smuggling problem at the border arises purely because of the existence of criminal gangs in Southern Spain, and the corruption of public officials in the area, as well as the economic circumstances.

GBC | Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation

PANORAMA EXCLUSIVE: Victim of ‘horrendous ordeal’ tells the full ‘frightening’ story

In an exclusive interview with Panorama, one of the two victims involved in the serious incident on Saturday morning in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, the owner of the leisure boat, has explained in detail what exactly happened when they were out fishing and were aggressively and illegally approached by a Guardia Civil vessel.

This person has requested that his name not be made public in this report, a request that we fully understand and have complied with.

In his own words the following are how events unfolded which again led last Saturday morning to yet another serious international incident with the Guardia Civil and again in BGTW:

IN MY OWN WORDS

I went out with a friend early on Saturday morning on board my pleasure boat to hopefully do some fishing.

I was steering the boat, we headed towards the lighthouse and at some point

mid-morning I saw from a distance the ‘Guardia Civil Rio Cedena M22 Launch ’ heading towards us from the direction of ‘Punta Carnero’. At the time we were not fishing at all, we were waiting to detect some fish activity.

In fact I immediately checked and confirmed our position and although at the time we were at a distance from land, the boat’s position was well within 3 miles and in BGTW. This was confirmed when checking my GPS system, where the boat’s tracking movements are recorded.

The Guardia Civil vessel approached my boat and there were 5 GC officers on board. They came up close and one of the officers asked for the Spanish fishing licence. I told them that I was in BGTW and they had no competence and I refused to show them any documents.

I was then instructed to switch off the engines to the boat, as they wanted to come on board my boat. At the time the engine was on idle mode (very slow moving) it was at this point at 1043am (I have the time recorded on my mobile) when I made the first emergency call to the RGP and informed them of the situation.

GC Officers Become Extremely Violent, Pulling Gun

At this point the GC officers became extremely aggressive towards us, and it was here that we started to fear for our safety. The GC shouted for me to cut off the engines or they would sink the boat, they were saying they wanted to take us to Algeciras.

It was then, that one of the Spanish officers pulled out his gun and with both hands, pointed his handgun at me and my friend who at this point, had dived down on the deck of the boat extremely frightened like I was. I called the RGP again!

Fearing for our safety and at this stage our lives, I opened up the engine and at

full-throttle and high speed fled away from the GC vessel. They GC gave chase coming close to us a number of times.

Local Boat Rammed Twice

In fact on two occasions the GC vessel, which was now conducting very dangerous and life threatening manoeuvres managed to ram my boat twice making contact with the ‘port-stern’ (left rear end) of my boat, the GC vessel leaving its paint marks on my boat that can be clearly distinguished.

It was getting difficult for me to out-manoeuvre the actions of the GC vessel because of the aggressive and hostile manner it was coming at us, it all looked unreal that this could be happening because I would not hand them my documents in BGTW!

We saw the RGP launch arriving and noticed that the RG marine officers were videoing the GC vessel chasing my boat. The GC were even then, still trying to board us, this was now much closer to land and they were aggressively trying to get at us, even with the presence now of the RGP.

GC Officers Aggressive Also Towards RGP Officers

Once the RGP came close the GC officers turned their aggression towards the RGP officers, I noticed that the RGP were much more calm about the situation. I have to say that the RGP launch did a good job in protecting us from the hands of the GC vessel, which dangerously persisted in its attempt to detain us all the way to Rosia Bay and the RGP fending them off all the way.

panorama daily 14/8/2014

It's high time someone pulled the plug on all this nonsense. Gibraltar is a place full of crooks, Spanish people dressed in British army uniforms for the tourists and those ridiculous Spaniards dressed as London policemen from 40 years ago.

The few people living there are an embarrassment to the rest of us.

A million of us expats in Spain would love to wave goodbye to the lot of them.

Sorry only 999999 and I haven't seen these Spanish / British archeotypes, the only policeman I spoke to there spoke perfect English. As for the crooks, the CdS is renowned for them, many on the UK's most wanted list reside here. We enjoy our occasional fish and chips, / Fag run every now and then, so long live Gib. B.T.W. My wife is not included in the million because she is not a British expat, she only has a right of residency in the UK. I think I qualify as an expat having left the UK in 1972. At times I feel more embarassed by the antics of many of those that normally live in the UK.
As for speaking for the Expats well, there are at least 30 from here that go weekly to Gib, so that knocks it down to <999969.
I agree that the plug be pulled on all this nonsense, It is as it is and that's the end of it.
M

That gave me a nice Friday morning laugh.

Well HBG your expat land Spain has got to be a dive if all you have got to offer your tourists is a day trip to Gib which you seem to hate.

Or is it to give the tourists a view of a land where the politicians are not lying corrupt fascists?

Please do not ask me to verify those last three words, the links would cover too many pages of this forum