§ Lord Wallace of Saltaireasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why, as reported in Partnership for Progress and Prosperity: Britain and the Overseas Territories (Cm 4264, March 1999), it has not so far been possible to eliminate completely drug and tobacco smuggling using boats based in Gibraltar. [HL2048]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanIllicit trafficking of drugs and tobacco using fast launches based in Gibraltar became a serious problem in the mid-1990s. Following Gibraltar legislation banning fast boats and regulating the tobacco trade, this problem has been solved, as paragraph 6.1 ofPartnership for Progress and Prosperity; Britain and the Overseas Territories states.
As with any port, there may be individual cases of illicit trafficking using other types of boats based in Gibraltar. But the Gibraltar authorities are committed to combating any such activity. Gibraltar's record in this area is very creditable.