Eloise HorsfieldA CRACKDOWN on cigarette smuggling has seen 16 people arrested and more than 186,000 cigarettes seized.
Officers raided a property and confiscated six vehicles and a canoe in a string of separate stings aimed at tackling the problem.
A number of the incidents occurred at Eastern Beach, resulting in the arrest of eight Spaniards as they attempted to return to Spain with the contraband.
A 36-year-old was arrested after 7,200 cigarettes were found in his car, while two others were stopped with 18,000.
A fourth Spaniard, 18, was caught carrying 5,400 cigarettes after being chased by police on a routine patrol.
A 21-year-old was arrested at Waterport basin after 33,600 cigarettes were found in his canoe, while two Spaniards, aged 45 and 46, were picked up in Fish Market Road with 10,000 cigarettes in their car.
A search of an abandoned car uncovered 18,000 cigarettes and a 33-year-old Spaniard was apprehended in Europa Road after a search of his car uncovered a stash of 7,000.
Two Spaniards were also arrested after being found with 15,000 cigarettes in a lock-up garage in Vineyards estate.
In a separate incident, four men have been arrested for attempting to smuggle cannabis onto the Rock.
The Spaniards, from Asturias, received sentences of between two and six months after they were found to have ingested a total of 1.4kg of the drug.
