CBSA evolving to meet the changing efforts of drug smugglers

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on May 9, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

The recent seizure of about 30 kilograms of cocaine by Canada Border Services Agency staff at the Coutts crossing is the latest unsuccessful effort by smugglers to import dangerous drugs into Canada.
Courts is one of the 30th busiest land entries into Canada and the busiest in Alberta. And CBSA staff are working 24 hours a day to keep illegal drugs out of the country.
Their job isn’t an easy one as criminal enterprises become more sophisticated and evolve their smuggling techniques to avoid the scrutiny of well-trained border officers.
Ben Tame, the Coutts-based director of the Southern Alberta and Southern Saskatchewan District, Prairie Division said in a recent interview that traffickers and smugglers are always trying to find new ways of getting illicit goods into the country.
And working with different law enforcement agencies on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, CBSA staff are staying on top of those efforts.
“Coutts is very busy,” said Tame.
“Criminal organizations are continuing to evolve and adapt and finding new ways to try to bring illicit goods into the country so that’s where our challenge lies,” says Tame, in evolving and adapting as an agency itself.
“We do that by staying on top of the trends and methods of organized crime groups. We obviously take it very seriously and analyze those new trends through our intelligence and targeting teams and we work hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners to ensure we have the best and latest information so we are well-positioned to protect the border, keep Canadians safe and secure and prevent illicit narcotics from getting into our towns and our communities,” Tame said.
Those partners include the RCMP, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol and some of the local police agencies here, he said.
Tame said the CBSA doesn’t release specific details about the most likely times of day smugglers will try to cross due to “the operational sensitivity of some of that type of information.”
He did say that criminals are getting more creative.
“There’s motivation there to find a way to get the contraband, whatever it may be, into the country so we as an agency and other law enforcement partners as well, are constantly working to stay abreast of those new trends, methods, to react to be in a position to respond,” said Tame.
Border staff are highly trained in scrutinizing drivers, passengers and vehicles crossing the border.
“Our officers are highly trained in contraband examination techniques, in interview techniques. They’re trained to observe indicators and to recognize when a person requires further examination or when goods require additional examination,” he added.
While cannabis is legal in Canada, it’s illegal for casual users to cross the border either way with any amount in possession, Tame added.
“Some folks are confused with cannabis being legalized in Canada. They don’t understand in some cases the implications of crossing an international border. So we try to keep the message around this very plain and simple and that message is ‘don’t bring it in and take don’t take it out,” he said.
“In spite of it being legalized and regulated in Canada, it remains illegal to transport into Canada or out of Canada. So whether you’re entering or leaving Canada, don’t bring it in or don’t take it out.”
The role in securing border integrity is shared between the RCMP and the CBSA. The RCMP has the responsibility for monitoring and securing the border between ports of entry whereas the CBSA has responsibility for securing it and border integrity at the designated ports of entry, Tame said.
“As an agency, we’re busy facilitating legitimate travel and trade through ports of entry while at the same, delivering on the mandates to keep Canada safe and secure. And ensuring our borders are not used for smuggling efforts, bringing in contraband and illicit goods into the country.”
Tame said CBSA staff see a wide range of drugs trying to be brought into the country.
“We see all kinds of different narcotics being attempted to be smuggled across the border…our officers are trained to respond to whatever type of narcotic they may discover during an examination.
“As an agency we are delivering for Canadians and here in Coutts specifically, we’re proud of the work the officers are doing. They’ve kept in the last few years hundreds of kilograms of illicit narcotics out of our towns, out of our cities and that’s a success for everyone to celebrate,” added Tame.

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