An illegal incursion by a Spanish customs vessel on Wednesday afternoon will be strongly protested to the authorities in Madrid by the Convent. The incident took place in waters out from Ocean Village and the Spanish vessel is deemed to have taken "executive action" in Gibraltar waters as it pursued a local fast launch.

The Aduanas vessel Aguila IV entered British Gibraltar Territorial Waters at around 2.45 pm on Wednesday. The Convent told GBC the Spanish authorities were pursuing what they thought was a suspect speed boat, with blue flashing lights illuminated and sirens sounding. The Spanish vessel stopped in the vicinity of the Ocean Village refuelling jetty.

The Government has confirmed the launch being chased was a locally registered speedboat with two local men. It says HM Customs officers immediately attended and detained the pleasure craft and its occupants.

A HM Customs vessel was also deployed to liaise with the Spanish crew, who were reportedly "very apologetic for coming so close to the marina” and advised that they had spotted the local launch in the area of the refinery and, after a request to stop was ignored, they were chased into local waters.

The Government says it is liaising with the Convent and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on this issue.

For his part, the Leader of the Opposition called it a "blatant incursion" & "outrageous". He said Spanish officers were armed & metres from Waterport Terraces & the runway. Keith Azopardi said: “It was just in front of our own authorities… a clear & deliberate disregard of our jurisdiction, sovereignty and control”.

The GSD says it completely rejects the brazen and unwarranted incursion into our waters, which it thinks can have no possible excuse. The official Opposition calls on the UK and Gibraltar Governments to make clear to Spain that this is entirely unjustified and unacceptable.

The Convent told GBC the Spanish customs vessel was escorted out of Gibraltar waters by HMS Dasher and a Royal Navy RHIB.

The incident has been categorised as “an incursion with executive action” - a serious incursion - and will be strongly protested to the Spanish authorities.

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