COASTAL Watch Donegal, a multi-agency initiative involving An Garda Síochána, the Irish Naval Service and Revenue’s Customs Service, was relaunched yesterday at the Coast Guard Station in Killybegs.

This collaborative effort is aimed at preventing and detecting the importation of illegal drugs by promoting the importance of vigilance among those living in coastal communities as well as those working with the wide range of organisations and agencies at sea and operating along the Donegal coastline.

This inter-agency initiative was first established over three decades ago with the objective of preventing Ireland’s north west coast being used for the importation of illegal drugs.

Regular patrols of the coastline form an overarching element of the operational plan, as does raising awareness among coastal communities and landowners, and those that are at sea for commercial and leisure purposes.

Previous cases have shown that the information received from vigilant members of the public has been critical in intercepting and ultimately preventing harmful narcotics reaching vulnerable people and communities in Ireland and elsewhere.

Commenting at the launch, Assistant Commissioner of the Garda North Western Region, Clíona Richardson, said: “Coastal Watch, in essence, is an enhancement of Neighbourhood Watch.

“Donegal has a huge coastal area and obviously that brings its own difficulties and challenges in relation to the importation of drugs.

“We’re encouraging members of the public and other people who use the coast, farmers who have land coming down onto the coast, walkers etc, to just be vigilant, and if you see anything that may be suspicious, to report to ourselves in An Garda Síochána or Revenue Customs.

“Don’t rely on other people reporting it.

“If you see something, report it.”

Chief Superintendent, Goretti Sheridan, Donegal Division, said: “Local fishermen and farmers will know what’s normal and what’s not normal on the sea and suspicious activities need to be reported.

“People out walking, people renting out Airbnbs or bed and breakfasts or hotels, if there’s people coming and going that are acting suspicious, let us know.”

An Garda Síochána Coastal Watch Liaison Officer in Donegal, Inspector Paul McGee, said: “Because of Ireland’s geography, drug smuggling along our coastline is something that we are cognisant of 24/7, 365 days of the year.

“It requires a multi-agency response through Coastal Watch to keep at bay, and central to that is the public’s awareness and how important it is to inform us of any unusual sightings and suspicious activity.

“It makes an enormous difference to our ability to target the criminals and organised crime groups intent on profiting from the misery that illegal drugs cause to ordinary people’s lives in Ireland.”

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; and vessels operating at night without lights.

Members of the public are encouraged to report any unusual activity to Customs Drugs Watch (Confidential Freephone number: 1800 295 295), the Garda Confidential Line (1800 666 111), the Emergency Number (112/999), the Naval Operations Centre (021 4864707), or any Garda Station.