Revenue launch campaign in Cork to recruit officers for customs patrol boats

The Revenue Customs Service has launched a campaign to recruit maritime officers for patrol duties on board Revenue customs cutters.

Customs cutters are small, high-powered vessels which are operated by Revenue in its role monitoring smuggling around Ireland’s 3,173km of coastline.

Revenue currently operates two cutters, the RCC Faire and the RCC Suirbhéir, which is due to be stood down once the agency takes delivery of a new vessel worth €8.75m.

At a press briefing in Cork yesterday, Andrew Ryan, operations manager for Revenue’s Maritime Unit, said the long-term ambition is to secure a second new cutter.

Seizures

Last year, Revenue’s enforcement teams were involved in seizures of illicit drugs valued at €302m, including the €157m worth of cocaine detected onboard the MV Matthew last September.

During the first eight months of this year, Revenue has seized drugs to the value of almost €170m, which is more than double the €75m worth of narcotics seized in the same period in 2023.

Launching the new recruitment campaign, the first such drive ever carried out by Revenue, Mr Ryan explained that the role involves patrols at sea and conducting searches of all types of vessels for drugs, cigarettes, and other prohibited and restricted items.

“What we’re looking for are individuals who want to work at sea, carrying out a law enforcement role, executing customs controls and targeting various types of vessels [which] may be involved in the smuggling of drugs, illicit cigarettes and tobacco, and weapons."

Revenue cutter crews act as participants in a wide range of enforcement activities including patrol, surveillance, and anti-smuggling work with members of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces.

Cutter crews also work with international law enforcement agencies including the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics), an initiative by eight EU states (Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal) and the UK, co-funded by the EU.

The job entails a 14-day roster where officers typically work eight days at sea on board the cutter and six days off.

The starting salary is €29,694.08 plus enforcement and maritime allowances totalling €13,793.64, bringing new recruits up to €43,487.72, and the salary increases each year up to a maximum total of €60,572.