Canada bolstered its border security plan after the United States announced the imposition of tariffs, part of which includes directing intelligence agencies to increase their collection efforts against transnational crime.
When announcing on Feb. 3 there would be at least a 30-day pause on the tariffs, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he had signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl that would be backed by a $200 million investment.
The government has not said whether this money is part of the initial $1.3 billion border plan announced in December. Public Safety Canada was contacted for comment.
Trudeau also said Canada would be listing drug cartels as terrorist entities, a move U.S. President Donald Trump had announced on his first day in office.
Trudeau’s directive on “Transnational Crime and Border Security,” released on Feb. 4, says drug trafficking poses a “significant threat to the livelihoods and safety of Canadians.”
The prime minister said usual stakeholders involved in countering crime, such as local governments and police, need to continue their work, but with the support of a “coordinated focus from our national security and intelligence community.”
Related Stories
Trudeau said the border plan includes resources destined for the electronic spying agency, the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), to increase its coverage of transnational organized crime and illegal drug supply chains. CSE is prohibited by law to collect information on Canadians, unless through judicial authorization.
Along with boosting CSE intelligence collection on the drug trade, Trudeau said the funding should also be used to bolster CSE’s cyber operations to disrupt drug trafficking.
The directive also says the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) will be playing a role in Ottawa’s strategy to ramp up efforts against criminal organizations.
Trudeau has directed the ministers of public safety and defence to have the RCMP, Public Safety Canada, and CSE work with other organizations to establish a “joint operational intelligence cell” focusing on “transnational organized crime, money laundering, border security, and drug-trafficking.”
Those organizations include CSIS, the Canada Border Services Agency, Global Affairs Canada, Health Canada, and FINTRAC.
“I expect this to be done with a particular focus on the trafficking of illicit drugs, especially fentanyl, and the importation of precursor chemicals to North America,” wrote Trudeau.
It remains to be seen how CSIS will be able to contribute in this effort given it is governed by legislation limiting its investigations to specific threats to the security of Canada. Those include espionage or sabotage, foreign influenced activities, the use of violence to achieve a political, religious, or ideological objective, and subversion.
There is in some cases intersection between the drug trade and terrorism, including with organizations like Lebanese Hezbollah. U.S. authorities have previously investigated such activities through different arms, including the Drug Enforcement Administration’s “Project Cassandra“ and the Justice Department’s Hezbollah Financing and Narcoterrorism Team.
Trudeau’s directive also calls for increased information sharing with sub-federal entities and joint operations with allies, “especially the United States.”
“The United States is, and will continue to be, the most essential partner in our efforts to reduce and disrupt transnational criminal activity and drug trafficking in North America,” said Trudeau.
The prime minister said on Feb. 3 the two countries will launch a joint strike force to combat organized crime.
Public Safety Minister David McGuinty said the strike force will be composed of 10 different teams and include law enforcement and intelligence personnel.
“That strike force is going to combat organized crime, fentanyl, and money laundering,” said McGuinty in Manitoba on Feb. 4 while discussing border measures.
