In a big drugs haul in the early hours of yesterday morning, police pounced on a fast launch carrying over a tonne of drugs which the RGP put the street value at over £7 million

The haul was as a result of ongoing collaborative work with the Guardia Civil...the RGP Police launch started to track a vessel which was on the eastside of Gibraltar making its way to Europa Point.

Due to the nature of the information a number of police officers were placed in strategic positions around the Rock to enable to follow the direction of the said vessel which then made its way towards Rosia Bay, hidding itself behind one of the tankers anchored in the bay.

An RGP statement adds: "Due to police spotters information was passed on to the RGP launch which made its way towards the said tanker, but on being seen the said vessel, which could now be identified as a red rigid semi inflatable, started to get away from the RGP launch. A chase then ensued with beacons and sirens applied, and in the process, one of the occupants was seen to jettison what appeared to be a Cannabis Bale into the sea. The RGP vessel managed to stop this RHIB which was seen to be fully loaded with bales suspected to be Cannabis Resin."

Both occupants of the RHIB were arrested on suspicion of being in possession of the said drugs with intent to supply others. Forty Eight (48) bales were found on this vessel, each bale estimated to weigh approximately 25 kilos, thus making a total weight of 1.2 tonnes.

The vessel and both defendants, Angel SERRAN PADILLA and Mateo RUIZ FAJARDO, both born in 1984 and resident in Ceuta were conveyed to Police Marine Base.

They were then transferred to Police Headquarters where they were interviewed under caution.

They were subsequently charged jointly with the following offences:

• Possession of a controlled drug namely approximately 1200 kilos of Cannabis Resin.

• Possession of a Controlled drug, namely approximately 1200 kilos of Cannabis Resin with intent to supply another or others.

• Jettisoning Cargo

• Importing a Prohibited Import, namely a rigid inflatable boat.

They appeared in the Magistrates Court where they were remanded in custody.

This has been the largest seizure of Cannabis Resin in recent years where persons have been arrested and charged with possession of the said drugs, said police.

The estimated street value of the said seizure is £6.2 million.