RCMP changes operations, patrols border for 1st time after Trump pushes for heightened security

The Windsor, Ont. RCMP officers have been tasked with patrolling the Canada-U.S. border in a new way due to the increased security concerns raised by U.S. President Donald Trump. Const. Ian Smith and his team have been conducting patrols along the approximately 800 kilometers of coastline from Tobermory to Port Burwell since December.

Their main focus is to look for anything suspicious, such as people, contraband, drugs, or commodities entering or leaving Canada illegally. This initiative came after Canada announced a $1.3 billion border security plan in response to Trump’s worries about the flow of drugs and migrants.

During the first four months of patrols, not much has been uncovered, primarily due to the low activity in the waterways during the cold weather. However, Smith emphasized that the goal is to deter illegal activities, even if they aren’t catching perpetrators.

To enhance border security, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) joined forces with the RCMP in Operation Deterrence. This collaboration involves 200 OPP officers dedicated to monitoring the boundary between the two countries.

In addition to ground patrols, the RCMP has also deployed officers in helicopters to cover the vast coastline more effectively. The last significant illegal activity observed by the RCMP in southwestern Ontario was human smuggling on the St. Clair River in September.

Previously, Smith primarily worked on drug investigations with the RCMP in Windsor. Now, he and his colleagues are balancing border patrols with ongoing investigations into drug-related activities.

A new development for the RCMP at the border is their involvement in inspecting commercial trucks heading to the U.S. at the Ambassador Bridge. Philie, a four-year-old German Shepherd trained to detect fentanyl, is one of the few dogs in Ontario with that capability and has been assisting the RCMP for about a year.

While the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has had the authority to question outbound drivers and inspect their vehicles since 2019, the frequency of these outbound searches in recent months remains unclear. Operation Blizzard, launched last month, aims to intercept illegal goods entering or leaving Canada, with a focus on fentanyl and other narcotics.

Overall, the RCMP officers in Windsor are adapting to new responsibilities and collaborating with other law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and security of both Canadian and American communities along the border.