Drug smugglers using coastal towns are being targeted in a new campaign by Customs officers, it emerged today.
Beach users along the east coast are being urged to report any suspicious activity to officials.
Sixty metal signs have been placed along sea fronts in counties Meath, Dublin and Wicklow, warning local residents and holidaymakers to note anything unusual they hear or see.
If successful, the pilot scheme - which runs from Gormanstown to Wicklow town - will be rolled out nationwide.
The Revenue Commissioners said the latest move is the updating of a drug watching scheme launched in 2003. Booklets were published and placed in yacht and sailing clubs, harbour terminals, and handed to hauliers and some households along the coast.
A Customs spokeswoman said the posters had been placed in particular points where people going on to beaches will see them straight away.
"We will assess the reaction from the general public, how well the scheme works and how many calls we get," she said. "We then plan to roll it out all over the country."
"Each sign has its own identification number so when someone calls us we know exactly where they are," she added.
"It means that people visiting a beach, as well as local people who know an area well, will be able to tell us exactly where they have seen something suspicious."
Last year Customs officials seized drugs with an estimated street value of almost €139 million.
PA