Customs officials were last night ordered off a 196-foot luxury yacht they had raided earlier in the day after a lawyer obtained a Supreme Court injunction to have the officials removed.

Customs officers, assisted by the Bermuda Police Service, seized the inan early morning raid for non-payment of duty and failure to obtain the necessary permissions to operate in local waters.

But lawyer Llewellyn Peniston, acting on behalf of owners Estrellas Management (BVI) Ltd. filed a writ against the Collector of Customs yesterday afternoon.

The was brought to Bermuda earlier this year and was scheduled to be used as a casino.

According to controversial plans, gamblers would be able to use the casino once the vessel sailed off Bermuda?s shore into international waters. The current territorial jurisdiction is 12 miles.

However, the ship would operate in the same way as cruise ships, which must close down their casinos when they approach Bermuda as they are not allowed to operate casinos in port as a condition of their permit.

But soon after the boat arrived the owners were said to be deliberating the fate of the luxury ship and nothing more was said of the ship being used as a casino ? in Bermuda or in another jurisdiction. There was talk that perhaps the ship would be used for a wider range of events including specialised cruises, weddings and conventions.

Neither of the parties involved were willing to discuss the matter yesterday, including Mr. Peniston who was not available for comment.