The Alberta government will deploy a new patrol team with the Alberta sheriffs to monitor its nearly 300-kilometre border with the United States.
In a Thursday announcement, the government confirmed that the new Interdiction Patrol Team would consist of 51 officers, ten support staff, four patrol dogs, ten surveillance drones, and four narcotics analyzers.
On top of the 298 kilometres that will be monitored for drug smuggling, gun trafficking, and illegal immigration, a two-kilometre “red zone” will be created. The Interdiction Patrol Team will also monitor major provincial highways and inter-provincial travel routes to and from the border.
The officers will be trained to inspect commercial vehicles, a common vessel for human trafficking.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith explained at a press conference that the red zone encompasses critical infrastructure and will empower sheriffs to arrest anyone deemed to be crossing the border illegally, trafficking illegal drugs or weapons without a warrant.
However, Minister of Public Safety Mike Ellis said that homeowners in the areas needn’t worry. He added that there would not be a ton of warrantless searches going on but that someone wandering in the middle of nowhere with something illicit would be subject to investigation by law enforcement.
Smith said the border enhancements are not in response to President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs.
She said that she proposed the changes back in a July 2023 mandate letter — which discussed creating a specialized sheriff-led team to combat fentanyl and illegal gun trafficking at the Alberta-U.S. border.
She added that meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the country’s premiers simply allowed her to accelerate the plan that her government had been working on for 18 months.
This is why 32 sheriffs have already received interdiction training.
Chief of Alberta Sheriffs, Bob Andrews, said that the interdiction teams will possess tools such as all-weather surveillance drones, off-road vehicles, thermal and night vision optical gear, and chemical identification systems.
“Crime does not respect borders,” said Andrews.
Smith said that Alberta will be collaborating closely with the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency to secure the border effectively.
The province is investing $29 million to create the new unit.
Ellis said that he was the first politician in Canada to highlight the country’s opioid crisis, which resulted in the Illegal Pill Press Act being implemented in 2016.
“Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet with the Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP, where we were able to share the plan with them,” said Ellis. “I’m happy to say that we all agreed that there was a strong agreement that the importance of collaboration towards a shared goal of a secured border.”
Angela Kemp, an inspector with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team, highlighted that ALERT has seized over 250,000 fentanyl pills, 90kg of fentanyl powders, and over a tonne of fentanyl precursors and buffing agents since the first seizure in 2013.
Smith said she would not mirror Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s threat to cut off energy production to the U.S.
“Under no circumstances will Alberta agree to cut off oil and gas exports,” she said. “Our approach is one of diplomacy, not threats.”
She added that approximately $133 billion in oil and gas is traded across the border. A 25% tariff would equal an additional dollar per gallon of gas Americans purchase.
Smith explained that various other provinces have discussed implementing a similar approach but that Alberta was able to accelerate the process thanks to prior planning. Without the Trump tariff threats, the plan was set to be implemented in March.
Numerous premiers demanded improved border security following their meeting with Trudeau.
The Conservative Party joined the call for action.
Quebec has similarly announced that it will be deploying provincial police at the U.S. border.
The Alberta government is hoping to have the 24-hour operation up and running by early 2025.
