MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Gibraltar: Spain hits back at UK accusing the Rock of increased tobacco smuggling
The Spanish Government has accused Britain of failing to tackle a sharp rise in tobacco smuggling at the border. In a statement marking the six-month deadline set by the European Commission following its visit last year, Spain also said that cooperation with law enforcement agencies in Gibraltar had deteriorated. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesThe Spanish ministry cited a recent incident in which a Guardia Civil officer was injured at sea while intercepting cigarette smugglers in British waters.
May 19th, 2014 - 10:26 am - Link - Report abuse 0What was a Guardia Civil doing in British waters?
According to the reports, most tobacco smuggling is undertaken by Spanish individuals in smallish boats. There's also a largeish element undertaken by Spanish poachers in British waters. As for the Guardia Civil thug, as zathras says, what was he doing there. And, more importantly, thank you spain. Was he inside the Port of Gibraltar? I thought all the other waters were Spanish. But now you admit that they are British. Thanks very much. The spanish are no different to the argies. Just wait patiently and they'll trip themselves up in their own lies. But now let's get something meaningful out there and start shooting.
May 19th, 2014 - 11:08 am - Link - Report abuse 0Quick word for the Guardia Civil thug. So sorry, senorita, did you get a splinter or break a nail? Didn't your mummy warn you that wearing those heels on a boat was dangerous, you nance! But pehaps it was part of the onboard “entertainment”! “Jose's in his bunk. Trot in and drop your anchor”!
Territorial Waters
May 19th, 2014 - 11:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0Margallo also said, 'Not sure about legal challenge of Gibraltar's waters.' quoted in MercoPress 13 December 2013.
'Historic Title' Guyana-v-Suriname PCA case 17 Sept 2007, para 296 'Thus Article 15 of the Convention places ''primary'' on the median line as the delimitation line between territorial seas of opposite or adjacent States.'
Hello,
May 19th, 2014 - 11:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0The last time I visited Portugal, I noticed that its alcohol duties were substantially greater than those levied in neighbouring Spain.
I wonder just how much Spanish booze is smuggled into Portugal and for that matter, precisely why one never hears anything whatsoever in Spanish Media of the contraband which must SURELY pass between Andorra, France, Portugal and Spain.
For: 11 ChrisR & 13 Conqueror.
For: 11 ChrisR:
Re: “SuperShapps” and his EU election campaigning.
We were BOTH wrong, his –to put it mildly, unusual name, ain’t Shapp nor Sharp– it’s SHAPPS!!!
Copy of part of Shapps’ statement as quoted by MercoPress:
***MP Shapps said the Conservative message is: “Look, if you want GIBRALTAR TO CONTINUE TO BE PART OF THE UK, if you want to know who is really batting for you, it’s the Conservatives, so please vote Conservative on the 22nd”*** But Gibraltar STILL ain’t part of the UK!!!
For 13 Conqueror: Part 2 of my truncated message:
Re: “colonies”, et cetera.
I don’t wish to widen this discussion of Shapps’ efforts in the Gibraltar EU election campaign to the point of including an erudite exposition of the subtleties of linguistic refinement. But I reckon that –in trying too hard to appear clever– you’re being a tiny bit pedantic, me ol’ Mate. As far as I understand, the meaning one should attribute to the word COLONY depends on the context in which it is used –even friggin’ bees have colonies– and I DO know that our remaining colonies are now officially styled British Overseas Territories –“The same old meat served with different gravy” versus “The same old dogs fitted with different collars”…
Re: “Jimmy Hanley”. Perchance you’re thinking of Tommy Handley of ITMA fame? I well remember listening to his weekly broadcasts, as a young English schoolboy, during the Nazis’ WWII Blitz of Britain.
In asking me to furnish you with my CV / biography, you exhibit an outrageous cheek that’s bigger than the side of a sodding Nº 14 ‘bus, for WHO the heck’s ha
She seems to forget that the queen appointed governor of the Falkland Islands has no actual power and it is merely a role of observation, advice and guidance whilst acting as a intermediary between the Falklands government and parliament in the UK.
May 19th, 2014 - 12:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It is the Falklands government (Whom the governor is not a member off) that make its own laws and political decisions with the exception of foreign affairs and defense. The islanders therefore already elect their own politicians and political leaders, just like Argentine provinces elect their governors whom are not the same, as they are members of government where as the Falklands Governor is not a member of the UK government or the Falkland government, its there merely a ceremonial role, though also has powers related to defense and internal security of the islands, provided by the UK.
She and the rest of the Argentine government clearly don't do any research in to facts, or even consider the implications of what they are about to say before saying. Shes made herself look like an uninformed muppet on the political stage and public stage with her comments above. lol
Strewth....what are the odds of two different posters writing comments that belong on another thread one after the other.....
May 19th, 2014 - 01:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Jim...you obviously type your replies either offline or in another program and so never know how many characters are left....use the box and do it in real time...it's tedious trying to follow your split posts....
“The Spanish ministry cited a recent incident in which a Guardia Civil officer was injured at sea while intercepting cigarette smugglers in British waters.”
May 19th, 2014 - 02:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What, did a cigarette attack him?
If he had been where he should have been in Spanish waters he wouldn't have been assaulted by a fag-lesson stick to your own territory.
@4 I don't understand how you are commenting/responding. I thought you passed away in 1970. I can acquaint you with the “context”. It's British or English. It's also to do with humans. Nothing to do with bees, beavers or argies.
May 19th, 2014 - 03:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Perhaps you'd like to truncate your “truncated” messages permanently.
Who gives a rats arse what the Spanish think.
May 19th, 2014 - 04:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The Spanish smugglers make £5 per carton if they sell them in Spain,
May 19th, 2014 - 05:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0That's less than £500,000 p.a. for the whole illegal business transiting Gibraltar. Spanish workers on The Rock treat it as a 'perk'.
What do the Spanish Customs do with the cartons they interdict? ... pull the other one!
'Overland cigarette exports into Gibraltar tripled between 2006 and 2011.
Since then, the trend had “intensified” to reach more than 11.4m cartons exported into Gibraltar by land.'
I believe that this is called 'trade', they do it 'wholesale' and it is quite a common thing in the EU.
I have written before that the 'trade' from North Africa's Spanish cantons to the Spanish 'Freeports' of Algeciras and Almeria (ferry routes) is kept VERY quiet. Cigarettes, drugs, people-smuggling?
I leave you to guess where the REAL problem is.
Spain should grow up and go away.
May 19th, 2014 - 06:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0For 13 Conqueror: Part 2 of my truncated message:
May 19th, 2014 - 07:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0P. S.
Given your seemingly insatiable interest in my ‘umble person, I’ll tell that in 1066 my paternal ancestor arrived in Briton with a namesake of yours, one William the Bastard. My mother’s side come down from a bunch of ne’re do well, wild Welsh tribesmen who caused rather a lot of bother for the odd English land grabbing monarch in during formers’ efforts to annex Wales.
Until you feel ready to give your own background, may I suggest you go back to playing with your fcuking CONKERS!
Part 2:
Re: “colonies”, et cetera.
I don’t wish to widen this discussion of Shapps’ efforts in the Gibraltar EU election campaign to the point of including an erudite exposition of the subtleties of linguistic refinement. But I reckon that –in trying too hard to appear clever– you’re being a tiny bit pedantic, me ol’ Mate. As far as I understand, the meaning one should attribute to the word COLONY depends on the context in which it is used –even friggin’ bees have colonies– and I DO know that our remaining colonies are now officially styled British Overseas Territories –“The same old meat served with different gravy” versus “The same old dogs fitted with different collars”…
Re: “Jimmy Hanley”. Perchance you’re thinking of Tommy Handley of ITMA fame? I well remember listening to his weekly broadcasts, as a young English schoolboy, during the Nazis’ WWII Blitz of Britain.
In asking me to furnish you with my CV / biography, you exhibit an outrageous cheek that’s bigger than the side of a sodding Nº 14 ‘bus, for WHO the heck’s hat do YOU wear –whilst cowering behind your pathetic pseudonym– that gives YOU the right to interrogate ME????
Jim Handley, in Madrid, Spain.
Spanish cigarette prices have doubled in the last 5 years hence the doubling in smuggling figures . .. thats what happens and has been for hundreds of years. Not so long ago when Spanish tobacco was cheap the Brits were stuffing their suitcases with cartons on their return home.
May 20th, 2014 - 12:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0Go to any Spanish Kiosk on the costa and they will openly sell you Gibraltar cigarettes (they have a English health warning) at a euro cheaper purchased from Spanish smugglers and ignored by the corrupt police.... So what ddoes Spain do.... point the finger at Gibraltar and complain.
@2 Conqueror
May 20th, 2014 - 10:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0Sorry, but nowhere in the Spanish statement will you find the assertion that the recent incident in which a Civil Guard happened “in British waters”.
http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Portal/es/SaladePrensa/NotasdePrensa/Paginas/NOTAS_P_2014/20140516_NOTA121.aspx
I regret to damp your joy.
For: 13 cheekychulo.
May 20th, 2014 - 01:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Re: Open sale of contraband cigarettes in Costa del Sol “Quioscos”.
You’re right of course and what you say simply confirms my belief that the Madrid government’s harassment of Gibraltar is a blatant attempt to distract Spanish public opinion away from what’s happening at home in Spain itself –rampant corruption in high governmental circles, demoralising destruction of the working and middle classes, devastating disaffection of Catalonia and other autonomous Spanish regions, ad nauseam…
Incidentally, do you know that the Spanish word CHULO really means PIMP in English? It seems you’ve chosen a stable career; for your line of business is always one of the last to fail –even in periods of recession so severe as today’s.
Cheers!
Jim, in Madrid.
“... cabe recordar que, el pasado 24 de abril, un agente de la Guardia Civil del Mar resultó herido en un incidente con la Royal Gibraltar Police, precisamente cuando la Guardia Civil estaba procediendo a la detención de una embarcación que se dedicaba al contrabando de tabaco.”
May 20th, 2014 - 02:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“... it should be recalled that on April 24, an officer of the Marine Civil Guard was injured in an incident with the Royal Gibraltar Police, just as the Civil Guard was proceeding to the apprehension of a vessel who was being used to smuggling tobacco.”
Oh so the Royal Gibraltar Police were in Spanish waters?
Interesting!
@15 Jim Hanley
May 20th, 2014 - 02:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As a matter of fact, “chulo” means “pimp” only in its eighth acception. The first one can be translated as “arrogant” or even “cheeky”. Look at it in the Spanish Royal Accademy Dictionary.
http://buscon.drae.es/
As for regional desaffection, being a Briton and looking at the latest polls in Scotland, well... I would be less assertive.
Well this is a predictable response from the Spanish government who are entirely disinterested in having good relations with Gibraltar. This is just a figleaf of an excuse to hide behind to provide justification of the continued bullying of Gibraltar.
May 20th, 2014 - 05:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I think its intolerable for the FCO to think that it's ok for us to have normal relations with Spain whilst Spanish aggression against Gibraltar continues. They need to stop being so bloody “Neville Chamberlain” and “wake up and smell the coffee.” I would suggest, based upon the current actions of the Spanish government towards Gibraltar that Spain is not a friendly country towards the UK. Pretending it is whilst its not is folly.
This is only ever going to get resolved when Spain begins to associate doing bad things to Gibraltar with the UK doing even badder things to Spain. This requires a statement of intent from our government which outlines that we'll come gunning for the Spanish govt if they continue their actions against Gibraltar. If they fail to heed the warning then nothing is off limits. We'll punish Spain diplomatically, we'll punish them economically, we'll seize their Police boats if they trespass and we'll set our Intelligence Services against the Spanish leadership to see what new corruption scandals we can reveal.
Today the MOD played down the report in the EXPRESS that extra men were being sent to Gibraltar,
May 20th, 2014 - 06:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0they say it was done at the end of 2013, and only a few extra,
some say, we are kowtowing to our political masters in the European oval office,
just saying like..
For: 13 cheekychulo & 17 olisipo.
May 20th, 2014 - 08:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0olisipo. Re: CHULO. The references you quote are all relatively modern (argot/slang) derivations from the REAL (ORIGINAL) meaning of the word –or are you totally bereft of all sense of humour?
When I started speaking Spanish 62 years’ ago, no self-respecting Spaniard would have called himself a chulo. Of course, I realise that idiomatic usage DOES evolve, especially in our gloriously unfettered, anarchic, native English –less so in tongues such as Spanish and French, which are “kept in order” by the diktats of the doddering daft ol’ farts –some of whom are almost as geriatric as yours truly– rabbiting-on in their respective “Academies of the Language”.
If in English, I refer to someone as stupid ol’ sod, I’m not LITERALLY saying he’s an aged, witless sodomite. Likewise, if I say a fellow is a miserable bastard, I ain’t stating he’s lacking material wherewithal and also illegitimate. And if you want to go a bit father back in time, and take a careful shufti at the word AWFUL, you’ll find that ORIGINALLY, it signified summat akin to: AMAZING, GREAT OR WONDERFUL BEYOND HUMAN COMPREHENSION or UNDERSTANDING. However centuries’ of misuse by the ignorati eventually gave AWFUL the essentially erroneous connotation it transmits today.
Oddly –to me at least–AWSOME (so enthusiastically overworked by some) still retains its initial meaning.
SEE PART 2...
@20 JimHandley
May 20th, 2014 - 08:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I won't be as profuse as you because, among other things, this is not the point of this forum. As it seems that you know well my native language, please read this about the origin and succesive meanings of the word “chulo”
http://www.esacademic.com/dic.nsf/sp_sp_origen/138/chulo
Bye
For: 13 cheekychulo & 17 olisipo.
May 20th, 2014 - 09:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Part 2.
For more than 20 years’ I wrote articles in Spanish on physics and electronics for the technical press in this country, so –as fortunately, I’m still completely compos mentis (says he!)– I don’t feel I’m in need of private Spanish tutoring by E-mail. Thanks, anyway!
Regarding the fact that so many Scots wish to “emancipate” themselves, I’ve never suggested otherwise. Furthermore, given the AWFUL incompetence and the appalling lack of interest for the welfare of the citizenry at large, so clearly demonstrated and practiced by our present, self-serving Westminsterite ‘see-you-next-tuesdays’, I ain’t in the least surprised that some of those north of the border are on the verge of “revolting” (JOKE)!
If I were a little younger, I’d declare my own, Peoples’ Republic of Jim’s Back Yard and tell all those of our devious political class to get right-royally Rogered!
Cheers!
Jim, in Madrid.
@22 JimHandley
May 20th, 2014 - 10:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Sorry for the e-mail tutoring, but the history of the word is rather interesting. Anyway, you're welcome.
It is refreshing to find an open-minded person in this kind of fora. Good luch with that People's Republic at you own back yard.
Olisipo, also in Madrid.
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