Taking the route
by sea
The battle against tobacco related activity, has taken a new twist as small leisure boats have taken to smuggling from the area of Marina Bay/Western Arms in what has been described as a "cat and mouse game" by Law enforcement officers from all services. The vessels, small pleasure boats, are known to be frequently entering Gibraltar without reporting their entry, loading with what is deemed as a legitimate quantity of tobacco, and then sailing to a near-by pier on the Spanish side of Western Beach where the tobacco is unloaded. The pier itself is in disputed waters and is partially constructed by Spain within what is deemed officially as British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. Core Photography photojournalist captured moments in which three vessels entered and left Gibraltar waters and unloaded onto the said piers in the mid day. The vessels conducted their activities throughout a two hour period unchallenged. They were later seen entering Marina Bay, loading bags onto the vessels and challenged by the Police and Customs who later released them. Core Photography was informed that the occupants of the vessels were carrying the legal limits of tobacco allowed. This being less than 1,999 cigarettes per person on each vessel. Personnel at the marinas informed No Comment that they had made the authorities aware of the frequent use of the marina, and although officials had continously checked the area and conducted checks it continued on a daily basis.