WINDSOR, Ont.– Ian Smith utilized to invest the majority of his days behind a desk in the RCMP’s Windsor, Ont., detachment, dealing with examinations and carrying out administrative tasks. As a member of the force’s border stability system, the constable states he didn’t even need to use his uniform.
That just recently altered.
Smith now wears a consistent and body armour as he drives a significant RCMP automobile to assist patrol approximately 800 kilometres of Ontario’s border with the United States, in addition to his typical investigative work.
His normal workday has actually altered because Canada made a $1.3-billion promise to boost border security in hopes of fending off U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff hazards, a few of which were nonetheless understood.
While Ottawa has actually rejected Trump’s claims that unlawful migration and fentanyl smuggling from Canada are a “serious” risk to Americans, it has actually still devoted to enhancing border patrols and the nation’s migration system, in addition to designating a fentanyl czar.
Smith stated he wishes to do his part.
“We’re doing these 24-hour patrols now, which is brand-new for us also here,” he stated in an interview as he drove along Windsor’s side of the Detroit River, which forms part of the border in between Ontario and Michigan.
“I think it’s essential due to the fact that criminal activity does not take place throughout daytime hours just, you understand, so ideally we’re discouraging the (criminal) behaviour.”
As part of the brand-new method, RCMP officers are progressively interesting with individuals who live near the border to collect info and seek their assistance to stop the smuggling of drugs and individuals into and from Canada.
On a current cloudy day, Smith took short, sluggish actions throughout the frozen river to consult with a group of individuals who were ice fishing, asking if they’ve seen anything suspicious.
The objective, he stated, is “to be present, to be noticeable and truly protect the border the very best we can.”
There are in between 30 and 40 officers in the Windsor detachment, consisting of those seconded from other systems and 2 Ontario Provincial Police officers sent out to help with border security, Smith stated. He’s been with the detachment for 9 years, after serving at an RCMP system in Saskatchewan for 6 years.
At each shift, 6 to 8 officers patrol numerous kilometres along the Ontario-U.S. border from Tobermory on Lake Huron all the method to Port Burwell on Lake Erie, a large location that consists of marshlands, lakes and rivers. Drones are an essential part of the system’s security of those water bodies.
The system just recently got its 3rd drone and officers will be trained to run the brand-new system.
Sgt. Ian Diplock, among the drone operators at the detachment, stated the gadgets are released to proactively keep track of the location or react to suspicious activities.
“We use them to get a viewpoint greater up so that we’re not restricted by simply a ground-view level,” he stated after showing the assembly and operation of a drone outside the detachment.
The drones are likewise being utilized by officers who might not have great presence while patrolling the waters on vessels, he stated. A drone needs to remain in the sight line, indicating it can’t be flown further than a kilometre from the officer running it.
“We have a big location to patrol here, however the members are deployable throughout that location, so they would bring the system with them and have the ability to cover off,” Diplock stated.
Smith stated the system has 2 boats to patrol the waters after the ice separates and melts in the spring. A number of officers have actually likewise been trained to do monitoring from helicopters the RCMP has actually chartered as part of the bigger border security strategy.
Over half of the $1.3 billion assigned over 6 years in Ottawa’s strategy will go to the Mounties and $355 million will go to the Canada Border Services Agency.
The RCMP stated it has actually set in motion resources to instantly increase its capability to patrol border locations throughout the nation.
The federal cops service stated it could not offer the overall variety of officers released along the 8,891 kilometres of the Canada-U.S. border due to “functional stability factors,” however it has actually “rearranged members to locations that have actually traditionally drawn in irregular migration circulations.”
“The strategy intends to find and interfere with the fentanyl trade, present substantial brand-new tools for police, improve functional co-ordination, boost info sharing and lessen unneeded border volumes,” RCMP representative Robin Percival composed in a declaration.
She stated the RCMP has actually gotten 40 drones from the Canadian Armed Forces and gotten extra drones, counter-drone innovation and other monitoring gadgets in the previous year.
2 Black Hawk helicopters have actually likewise been chartered to assist avoid “prohibited crossings of individuals, products and drugs” in both instructions throughout the border, she stated.
Mounties are not the only police seeking to boost border security.
Ontario stated in January that its own strategy will see some 200 provincial law enforcement officers increasing border patrols. Alberta has actually revealed a brand-new constable system to patrol its border with the U.S. and preservation officers in Manitoba are assisting with border security because province.
The Canada Border Services Agency stated it will hire more than 100 brand-new officers, intelligence experts and specialized chemists with the extra federal funds. The CBSA likewise prepares to train more detector pet dog groups and get brand-new tools and scanners.
The company stated its Operation Blizzard will target fentanyl and other artificial narcotics can be found in and out of Canada.
While Trump raises issues over the circulation of fentanyl and migrants into the U.S., information reveal that prohibited guns and drugs are entering into Canada from south of the border at a worrying speed.
Information shown The Canadian Press reveal that CBSA representatives have actually taken a minimum of 2,345 guns originating from the U.S. considering that 2022.
More than 24,000 kgs of numerous drugs, consisting of more than 2 kgs of fentanyl, have actually likewise been seized throughout the very same duration at the U.S.-Canada border, the information reveal.
Officers in the Windsor RCMP detachment state they are dealing with various examinations connected to more than 3,891 kgs of illegal drugs taken by the CBSA at simply 2 ports of entry– Windsor and Sarnia, Ont.– considering that January 2022. They state 386 kgs have actually been taken up until now in 2025.
“Criminals attempt to make use of the border both methods,” CBSA representative Jacqueline Roby composed in a declaration. “U.S. authorities depend on us in the exact same method we depend on them to share info and determine risks to our nations.”
Smith, the RCMP officer in Windsor, concurs that the smuggling of unlawful guns and drugs into Canada is a severe problem.
In one such case, a bag filled with pistols was taken after the drone bring it throughout St. Clair River south of Sarnia, Ont., got stuck in a tree in 2022.
When it comes to drug smuggling: “It is a big issue, the quantity of drugs that enter into Canada,” he stated.
Smith stated there is close cross-border co-operation in between American and Canadian authorities and they right away notify each other about any big seizures of prohibited weapons or drugs.
He stated he does not remember the Americans ever calling the Windsor RCMP detachment about fentanyl originating from Canada.
Canadians have actually reacted with a mix of anger and disappointment to Trump’s claims about Canada, the continuous tariff war and his addition dangers, with some boycotting U.S. items and cancelling journeys south of the border.
Smith stated his own household is striking time out on journeys to neighboring Detroit, which deals with Windsor from the opposite of the river, in the meantime.
“Right now, I’ll keep my cash in Canada, till these tariff dangers or tariffs disappear,” he stated.
This report by The Canadian Press was very first released March 16, 2025.
Sharif Hassan, The Canadian Press
