Spanish Customs Officer Dies in Helicopter Crash During Drug Bust in Gibraltar Strait

The helicopter was supervising the operation to pursue a drug trafficker carried out by a patrol boat about 30 miles east of Sotogrande, in the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar, the Spanish Ministry of the Interior said on its Twitter account. The victim, José Luis Dominguez Iborra, 61, had a 40-year career in customs surveillance. The pilot and co-pilot of the helicopter, who are safe and sound, managed to revive him and bring him back to shore. Despite the care he received later by the mobile intensive care unit, José Luis Dominguez Iborra is said to have gone into respiratory arrest.

His body was transferred to the Los Pinos funeral home where his customs surveillance colleagues as well as government authorities (Pedro Sánchez, María Jesús Montero), those of Andalusia (Juanma Moreno, Juan Marín) and Cádiz, the President of the Commonwealth and the Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, the mayors of the region, the National Police, the Civil Guard, the Port of Algeciras and the local police, paid him a final tribute.

"My condolences to the family of the customs surveillance operator who died when the helicopter with which they were conducting an operation in the San Roque area crashed into the sea. Thank you to all the troops and FCS who watch over us every day for our security, against crime," said the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, on his Twitter account.

The President of the Andalusia Council, Juanma Moreno, also regrets the death of the customs officer. "I deeply regret what happened. In these moments of anguish, all our affection and support to the family of the deceased official, to his customs colleagues and to all the troops who risk their lives to guarantee security in the strait," he tweeted. "My condolences to his family and friends and I wish a speedy recovery to the rescued colleagues. All my support to those who face this scourge to defend the law and ensure our security," Juan Marín, the Vice-President of the Council, also said on social media.

The Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, also expressed in a tweet her "sincere condolences on behalf of the entire Ministry of Finance, the Tax Agency and the Customs Surveillance Service, to the family and friends of the official who lost his life in an operation against drug trafficking".