Coastal drugs crackdown steps up as Gardaí and Revenue hit Greencastle

A multi-agency operation aimed at tackling the importation of drugs through Ireland’s coastal areas was highlighted in Donegal this morning, with Gardaí and Revenue Customs officers stopping vehicles coming on and off the Greencastle ferry.

Motorists were handed information leaflets as part of a new Coastal – Drugs Watch initiative, which is urging members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity around Donegal’s coastline and ports.

The Greencastle operation comes amid increased efforts by the authorities to prevent drugs being brought into the country through coastal routes.

The initiative is described as a multi-agency taskforce involving Revenue and An Garda Síochána for the prevention and detection of illegal drug importation and criminal activity.

The campaign is asking coastal communities to keep an eye out for unusual activity involving boats, vessels and people around the shoreline, with the public being encouraged to report anything they believe may be suspicious.

Among the activities people are asked to be vigilant about are suspicious movements involving people or vehicles, rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) operating in or launching from remote locations, and inexperienced individuals seeking to purchase fishing vessels.

The public is also asked to be alert to yachts and pleasure craft sighted in remote locations, as well as boat crews making landings or unloading cargo on remote beaches or small islands.

Other warning signs include unusual objects at sea or ashore, such as buoys or signalling devices, and possible unauthorised landings by foreign vessels.

The ‘Coastal – Drugs Watch’ leaflet also asks people to report merchant shipping vessels anchoring close to land or islands, ships signalling ashore or being met by small craft away from normal shipping lanes, and vessels operating at night without lights.

Members of the public are further asked to be vigilant for packages or bags floating in the sea, lying on beaches or hidden close to the shore or on beaches.

The authorities stressed that members of the public should not put themselves at risk or become directly involved in any suspicious incident.

The leaflet advises people not to attempt to contact the authorities by radio unless there is an emergency, as they may be overheard. Instead, members of the public are urged to report what they have seen and allow the relevant authorities to investigate.

Suspicious activity relating to drugs or coastal crime can be reported to the Customs Drugs Watch on 1800 295 295 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. In an emergency, members of the public should contact 112 or 999.