Boat owners and the general public are being enlisted to help Customs catch drug smugglers, through their stand at the London Boat show, which opened today.

Yacht and motorboat enthusiasts sailing around the UK coastline are in an ideal position to identify and report any suspicious behaviour that may be caused by drug smuggling. Please phone the confidential Customs and Excise 24 hour freephone on 0800 59 5000 as soon as possible.

Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo, the Minister responsible for drug enforcement said, "We are determined to tackle the menace of drug misuse, and to stop the damage it does to individuals, and to society. We all have an important part to play in tackling drugs together, to prevent the increase in burglaries, violence and other crimes that drugs misuse cause.

"If you know about any suspicious activities which may result from drug smuggling, please phone our 24 hour free phone - 0800 59 5000 - as soon as possible and help us stop the criminals who are destroying our communities. All calls are treated in confidence and no piece of information is too small, let the Customs officers judge the importance of what you know or suspect."

INFORMATION THAT CAN HELP CUSTOMS AND EXCISE CATCH DRUG SMUGGLERS

What to look out for:

Yachts, rigid inflatable boats and other pleasure craft in remote areas.

Packages being loaded or unloaded in unusual areas, remote beaches, at sea or at odd times.

Ships signalling ashore or being met by smaller craft.

Vessels or aircraft operating at night without lights.

Vehicles or vessels specifically adapted to conceal goods, or requests for such adaptations.

Aircraft touching down or landing in fields or improvised airstrips, and other unusual circumstances.

Packages being dropped from aircraft.

Strangers asking questions about remote beaches or landing sites.

Aircraft flying low repeatedly over potential landing or dropping spots.

Fellow passengers acting nervously or suspiciously.

WHAT SHOULD I DO

Note down where possible vehicle registration numbers, date, time, place, descriptions of people, vehicles, vessels and aircraft.

Report the facts to the local Customs office or the freephone - 0800 59 5000 - a 24 hour confidential line.

Do not attempt to involve yourself - these can be dangerous criminals.

Do not touch any suspect packages - drugs are dangerous and you may destroy evidence.

Contact Customs by telephone; do not attempt to contact authorities by radio unless there is an emergency, as you may be overheard.

Do not think any piece of information is too trivial - it could be vital.