Gardaí relaunch Coastal Watch urging Cork communities to report suspicious maritime activity

Enhanced Coastal Watch initiative encourages coastal communities to report suspicious activity linked to drug trafficking and other crimes

Information from the public alerted gardaí to unusual activity surrounding the purchase of the fishing boat Castlemore in Castletownbere, which was due to collect cocaine from the MV Matthew. Picture: Larry Cummins

Cork's coast is a target for international drug trafficking, and gardaí are encouraging locals to report any suspicious activity through a new Coastal Watch programme.

Packages floating at sea, vehicles parked in unusual locations, and boat crews operating in remote areas are among the activities EIleen Foster, assistant commissioner for the Southern Region, said gardaí want the public to report through Coastal Watch.