The Alberta government is taking swift action to curb illegal border activity and strengthen the country's border security. The new measures will immediately combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking across the border.
"We cannot take border security lightly. By establishing this new team of sheriffs on our southern border, we are proactively working to address security concerns and stop criminals whose activities destroy lives on both sides of the border."
Danielle Smith, Premier
A new Interdiction Patrol Team (IPT) within the Alberta Sheriffs will combat drug smuggling, firearms trafficking and other illegal activities occurring along Alberta's 298-kilometre international border. The IPT will be supported by:
51 uniformed officers armed with rifles (tactical weapons);
10 support staff, including dispatchers and analysts;
four drug patrol dogs, essential to ensuring reasonable suspicion during vehicle searches;
10 cold-weather surveillance drones that can operate in high winds with dedicated pilots; And
four narcotics analyzers for the detection of illegal drugs. This team will patrol to detect and seize illegal drugs, illegal firearms and illegal attempts to illegally cross the international border.
The Alberta government will also create a two-kilometre-deep critical border zone, considered critical infrastructure, to allow sheriffs to arrest people attempting to cross the border illegally or smuggle illegal drugs or weapons, without the need for a warrant. This critical border zone will be created by amending regulations under the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act. This will not apply to people legally travelling on Alberta highways and roads.
"The Alberta government is strengthening border surveillance. We have long recognized the need for additional capabilities to patrol Alberta's vulnerable international borders, where illegal activity of all kinds is rampant. I look forward to working with our law enforcement colleagues and government partners to send a clear message to potential criminals: criminal activity, such as fentanyl trafficking, will not be tolerated at our borders or anywhere in our province. ยป
Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services
"Stopping illegal cross-border activity at the source prevents it from spreading further into the rest of the province, and Alberta sheriffs are proud to step up and take on this important role."
Bob Andrews, Sheriff of Alberta
"No matter what uniform we wear or the organization we represent, law enforcement across the province is aggressively targeting drug traffickers, disrupting the fentanyl trade, and keeping our communities safe."
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