A “Coastal Watch” to detect and prevent importation of illegal drugs has been revitalised by the Galway Garda division and Revenue Customs Service.
Communities living along 500 km of coastline in the west, along with maritime businesses and those working at sea, have been urged to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
The relaunch of a “Coastal Watch” comes just days after the largest drug seizure in the State’s history off the Cork coast. The original initiative was established over three decades ago.
“Regular patrol of the coastline forms an overarching element of the operational plan, as does raising awareness among coastal communities and landowners, as well as those that are at sea for commercial and leisure purposes,” the Garda Siochána says.
"Renewing Coastal Watch demonstrates An Garda Síochána’s ongoing commitment to fulfilling the objectives of our Drug Detection Strategy and tackling the sale and supply of illegal drugs at local, national and international levels,” Chief Supt Gerry Roche said at an event in Clifden, Co Galway.
"Recent seizures of large quantities of cocaine along Irish coastline demonstrate that this initiative is more important than ever,” he said.
"The public’s assistance in alerting Gardaí to any suspicious activity along the coastline helps us to combat this illegal activity,” he said.
Coastal Watch aims to highlight suspicious or unusual activity such as:
- Packages floating in the sea, on the beach or hidden close to the shoreline
- Crew making landings in remote areas
- Unusual objects at sea or ashore, such as buoys or signalling devices
- Possible unauthorised landings by foreign vessels
- Merchant shipping at anchor close to land or islands
- Ships away from their normal shipping lanes
- Ships signalling ashore or being met by small craft
- Vessels operating at night without lights.
