COASTAL WATCH BIG RESPONSIBILITY FOR RCMP

With some 500 miles of coastline, much of it isolated, Prince Edward Island
is made to order for drug importers looking for remote locations to offload
large quantities of narcotics.

Driven to the East Coast of Canada by the combined efforts of the Drug
Enforcement Agency (DEA), the U.S. Coast Guard and other police agencies in
the U.S., well-financed and well-organized drug smugglers have been sailing
their mother ships into Maritime coves, inlets and sheltered bays.

From there, they ferry their goods to shore on smaller, faster craft like
Zodiacs and load them into waiting vehicles for distribution all over the
map.

Canadian drug enforcement agencies know that scenario all too well.

They also know that with that much coastline and their relatively limited
resources, it's highly unlikely they're going to stop this highly lucrative
enterprise.

``I would say we get one vessel in 10,'' says Const. Tony Halvorson of the
RCMP's `L' Division Drug Section in Charlottetown. ``The rest, sadly, are
getting through.''

Sometimes they catch the big ones, like the Nic-Nac, boarded near Cape
Tryon a couple of years ago with four tons of baled marijuana on board, a
cargo worth millions of dollars.

But the RCMP concedes that much of the time they miss the boat, so to speak.

``We just don't have the resources. Too much coast, not enough manpower.''

It's because of that the RCMP is stepping up the promotion of its Coastal
Watch Program, a program which enlists the eyes and ears of fishermen,
pleasure boaters, cottage dwellers and others who live and work in coastal
communities to join police in the war on drugs.

``If you are a recreational or professional boater, fuel dock attendant or
vessel broker, or if you live or work near the water, you can play a vital
role in the Coastal Watch Program,'' an RCMP pamphlet on Coastal Watch
suggests.

People can help by watching for suspicious or illegal activities and
reporting same to police, Halvorson said.

``Who better than fishermen knows what's going on on the water? They know
the coastline better than anyone. They're out there on the water all the
time. If there's been a strange vessel in their area for any amount, they
know it.''

Citing another example, Halvorson noted that those in the business of
selling marine fuel would notice if unusually large quantities of fuel were
being purchased by someone unfamiliar.

``Or if someone is offering to pay you what seems like a huge amount of
cash to rent your boat for just a few hours, you could be witnessing part
of an illegal drug operation.''

He said large-scale drug operations usually involve many people and many
different kinds of equipment so there are a number of indicators people can
look for.

``Drugs are big business. The industry is worth billions of dollars and
they're prepared to pay top dollar for things they want. And they don't
want to leave a paper trail so they pay cash for everything, whether it's
land, buildings, a fast boat or a four-wheel-drive vehicle.''

Halvorson said those who conspire to import drugs often follow similar patterns.

A Coastal Watch guide notes, for example, that when bringing in drugs by
sea, smugglers usually operate outside normal fishing or shipping lanes;
operate outside normal fishing times; load or unload cargo in unusual
places; and usually run at night, without benefit of lights.

Some may try to disguise their vessels to look like fishing boats but a
search would likely fail to yield any fishing gear.

Another indicator, Halvorson notes, is people travelling in vessels that
appear to be beyond the means of the owner.

A good deal of information about the seaborne drug trade and how the public
can help police crack down on it is contained in a new video produced by
the RCMP with the assistance of the audio-visual department at UPEI,
specifically Jay MacPhail and Henry Dunsmore, whom Halvorson says have
provided a valuable community service.

The video, which is unique to P.E.I., uses the waters off the Island and
many familiar settings to explain what the Coastal Watch Program is, how
important it is for people to get involved and how they can get involved.

Halvorson and his superiors are extremely proud of the professional-looking
video and are hopeful many people will see it and choose to become
involved.

``It's in everyone's best interest to stop the flow of drugs coming into
P.E.I. and reduce their availability, particularly to our young people.''

And he noted that because the program is connected to Crime Stoppers in
P.E.I. people can assist the police without having to worry about their
identity becoming public.

Anyone wishing further information on the Coastal Watch program should
contact the nearest detachment of the RCMP. Each Island detachment has a
Coastal Watch coordinator.