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Join the fight against drug smuggling

Criminal networks are exploiting travellers into smuggling drugs without their knowledge. Learn how to protect yourself and how the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) with our partners work to stop these criminals.

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Protect yourself

If you are in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1. If you are afraid for your safety or the safety of others, please contact your local police.

The CBSA has been working in close collaboration with our partners to ensure that you have the information you need to protect yourself from unknowingly getting involved in drug smuggling networks. Criminals use many schemes and approaches to recruit or lure travellers into lowering their guard and bringing drugs across the border. If an something seems too good to be true, it probably is and there's a good chance you could be a target for recruitment into criminal activities.

Smuggling drugs – including cannabis – in any amount is illegal. The consequences of being caught with illegal drugs are life-changing. Consequences in Canada include arrest, fines, and jail time. Foreign nationals could be removed from Canada and banned from returning.

Never carry a gift, package or luggage for anyone across a border or through customs. If drugs are found, you will be held responsible.

Awareness is your best defence.

Learn about drug smuggling: scams, setups and consequences

Watch our video: Don't fall for drug smuggling scams
Beware of jobs offering free travel in exchange for a delivery. It's not a job, it's a setup. Border Service Officers have the right and authority to inspect all items and individuals crossing the border.

Watch our video: Drug smuggling: Beware of who you trust on vacation
As part of CBSA's commitment to disrupt criminal networks and fight drug smuggling, this reel warns Canadians to be cautious and aware of recruitment tactics.

Fighting drug smuggling at the border

The CBSA is taking strong, coordinated action to fight smuggling, protect communities, and keep our borders secure. We work closely with domestic and international law enforcement partners to form a network of officers dedicated to stopping the flow of drugs and other contraband across international borders. With our partners, we are determined to combat this serious problem that risks the safety of Canadian communities.

The CBSA provides services at 1,200 ports of entry, where it has the authority to:

  • question all travellers, including Canadian citizens, entering or leaving the country
  • examine all goods
  • intercept smuggling attempts at ports of entry and in postal and commercial streams
  • share information and intelligence with domestic and international partners to track global criminal networks

Watch our video: Stopping drug smugglers in their tracks
CBSA officers at Montreal-Trudeau airport conducted an operation in the export baggage area of a flight to France during which 37.5 kg of cannabis was intercepted and seized.

Detection tools and techniques

The CBSA uses a number of tools to stop the flow of illegal drugs into Canada. Border services officers use detection equipment, training and experience to locate and detect all types of contraband, including illicit drugs, even when the most unusual and sophisticated concealment methods are used.

To intercept illegal drugs, CBSA officers use:

  • interview, examination and investigative techniques
  • proven indicators, advance information and intelligence-sharing
  • innovative technology such as ion mobility spectrometry, x-rays and Narcotic Identification Kits
  • our Detector Dog Service (DDS)

Watch our video: Canada's first fentanyl-detection dogs are now on duty
Meet the CBSA's first fentanyl detector dogs, now deployed to protect Canada. They are joining over 80 detection dog teams currently operating across the country.

Working with our partners

Collaboration is key to our success. The CBSA works closely with domestic and international partners to strengthen our efforts.

Law enforcement partnerships

We work with the RCMP and other law enforcement partners to detect, investigate and disrupt the illegal drug supply chain and stop criminal networks by intercepting drugs and other prohibited goods from entering or leaving the country.

The RCMP supports these efforts by:

  • acting as the investigative body for cross-border offenses
  • compiling evidence to support federal prosecutions
  • sharing domestic and international intelligence with the CBSA and foreign law enforcement partners to intercept shipments before they reach the border
  • disrupting domestic distribution networks that receive illicit goods
  • conducting federal investigations into organized crime groups and transnational drug trafficking networks
  • protecting Canada's border between ports of entry and conducting investigations at ports of entry, based on referrals from the CBSA

Other law enforcement partners support these efforts by:

  • sharing intelligence with federal partners
  • participating in joint operations
  • investigating and supporting prosecution of those involved in drug smuggling

This close collaboration helps stop drugs and other prohibited or controlled goods from entering or leaving Canada illegally.

International partnerships

Fighting organized crime takes international cooperation. Canada and its allies count on each other to share information and identify threats.

With partner countries, the CBSA:

  • shares information
  • participates in collaborative targeting
  • has embedded liaison officers based internationally

Canada also regularly and actively engages with our international partners through:

  • Canada–US Joint Action Plan on Opioids
  • Five Eyes (FVEY) Intelligence Alliance
  • G7
  • Interpol
  • North American Drug Dialogue (NADD)
  • Trilateral Fentanyl Committee joint commitments (Canada–US–Mexico)

Supported by Canada's Border Plan

These efforts are reinforced by Canada's Border Plan, built around five pillars:

  • detect and disrupt drug trade
  • introduce significant new tools for law enforcement
  • improve operational coordination
  • expand information sharing
  • minimize unnecessary border volumes

Report suspicious activity

If you have information about cross-border drug smuggling or related criminal activity, reach out to:

  • CBSA Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060
  • Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) at 1-800-387-0020
  • Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS

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