How an alleged Russian plot suddenly upended Canada’s air cargo rules

The Labour Day long weekend was anything but restful for Bruce Rodgers. His phone started buzzing on the Friday night and didn’t stop, with dozens of emails and calls all asking the same thing: Why had air cargo imports to Canada suddenly ground to a halt?

As executive director of the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) — the industry body for the national network of cargo handlers — Rodgers is used to dealing with the fallout from labour disruptions, accidents or even natural disasters. But not mysteries.

“We knew absolutely nothing. We were not aware of what transpired,” he said. “Freight just wasn’t moving.”

Rodgers and his colleagues soon came to realize that Transport Canada had imposed radical new rules for air cargo imports from 55 mostly European countries, with no prior warning. And as a consequence, next to nothing was being accepted onto inbound flights.

The new rules demanded proof of an “established” business relationship between shippers and recipients, with at least six shipments over the previous 90 days, as well as documented payment histories for past transactions. It’s a high bar many importers couldn’t reach — and one that is still causing chaos.

But the oddest thing to Rodgers was that no one would explain why.

“We attempted to get information directly from Transport Canada. They claimed that due to the Aeronautics Act, they weren’t able to disclose this information with the freight forwarders, who are responsible for controlling the movement of goods. They only shared it with the airlines,” he said.

Canadian cargo handlers finally figured out what was happening through conversations with their U.S. counterparts, who were grappling with the same new demands: Someone was trying to smuggle incendiary devices onto passenger and cargo jets, raising the possibility of a devastating mid-air fire.

It is only in the last two weeks that the extent of the threat has become clear. On Oct. 25, authorities in Poland arrested four people over an alleged plan to send firebombs hidden within personal massagers to addresses in Europe and beyond. The shipments are now linked to two summer fires inside cargo warehouses in Germany and the U.K. — test runs, it seems, for the targeting of trans-Atlantic flights.

Canadian authorities are still reluctant to discuss the matter. Requests for interviews with officials from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Public Safety Canada, and Transport Canada were all declined. But a spokesperson for Public Safety Canada did provide a brief statement, acknowledging that the federal government is “aware of and deeply concerned with Russia’s intensifying campaign, from cyber incidents and disinformation operations to sabotage activities.”

Russia has denied having any hand in the planting of the firebombs, with President Vladimir Putin calling the allegations “utter rubbish.”

But concerns over Russian intelligence activities across western Europe have been simmering for almost a year — with dozens of incidents, from train derailments and arsons, to planned attacks on U.S. military bases and even a plot to assassinate the CEO of a German arms manufacturer, all linked to Russian agents.

Last month, Bruno Kahl, the head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service, or BND, warned that Russia’s dirty tricks campaign was now at a “level previously unseen,” while Ken McCallum, director general of Britain’s MI5, accused Russia of being on a “sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets.”

Russia expert Keir Giles with Chatham House in London said the true extent of the sabotage has been difficult to track because until recently, many countries have been reticent to disclose details of attempts or damage suffered.

“What is clear, however, is that many of the acts are being carried out by proxies — often criminal gang members — allegedly recruited and paid by Russian intelligence,” Giles said.

But the alleged plot against passenger and cargo planes represents a whole new level of threat, as evidenced by the swift and far-reaching rule changes for cargo.

The impact on trade, in Canada and abroad, continues to be felt. The tough, new air-shipping rules will remain in place for the foreseeable future, the CIFFA’s Rodgers said, and so does the bottleneck for imports.

He still chafes at Transport Canada’s close-lipped approach to the problem.

“It’s frustrating,” Rodgers said. “We need the information to help the government put in better controls, safer controls for the health, safety and security of Canadians. That’s the role that we play.”

“There’s better, better measures that could have been implemented,” he said. “My belief is that they truly don’t understand the way trade moves.”

In conclusion, the air cargo import halt in Canada due to new regulations imposed by Transport Canada has been linked to a potential threat of smuggling incendiary devices onto passenger and cargo jets. The alleged plot, orchestrated by Russian intelligence, has raised concerns about security and trade impacts, leading to stricter rules and ongoing chaos in the industry. The uncertainty surrounding the situation highlights the need for transparency and cooperation to ensure the safety and security of Canadians.