BOATERS TO HELP IN WAR ON DRUGS

Common sense and a careful eye by the local boating community may
help eradicate drug smuggling in coastal waters.

This summer the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP and the local Coast Guard
Auxiliary will be actively promoting the RCMP Coastal Watch Program,
which is like the Neighbourhood Watch Program, but on the water, says
North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP Cpl. Brian Brown.

"We can't be everywhere and we look to the public to be our eyes and
ears," said Brown. "It's their coast. It goes back to being the basic
principle of policing, the public are the police and the police are
the public."

Drug smuggling along the Vancouver Island Coast line is a real problem.

About 10 per cent of the cocaine and 50 per cent of the marijuana
imported into Canada arrives by water.

Smuggling along this coastline started in the early 1900s with the
liquor runs during prohibition and now drugs are the cargo of choice.

Brown aid he has photographs of "tons and tons" of marijuana bales
and hash seized from vessels along the Island's coast.

"This is nothing new," said Brown. "There are lots of coves and bays
and places to hide."

Anyone who is familiar with normal marine activity can help including
recreational to professional boaters, fuel dock attendants, vessel
brokers and those who live or work near the water.

Suspicious activity may include a vessel operating outside of normal
fishing or shipping lanes, a vessel operating outside normal fishing
times, a run at night without lights, a vessel not carrying the right
equipment for the work it is supposed to be doing or an off load
cargo in unusual or isolated areas.

If someone sees these kind of activities, information like the vessel
description, name, registration number, the activities and any other
vessel involvement are important as well as the date and time. Brown
said people should call right away because the RCMP have a greater
chance of catching the culprits.

Tips can be anonymous and identities are kept confidential.

If you see suspicious boating activities call the BC Coastal Watch
Hotline at 1-888-855-6655 or call the Rescue Coordination Centre on
the boat radio.