Ottawa, Ontario
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) recently concluded Operation Sky Shield, a month-long operation targeting export smuggling of illicit narcotics and precursors in the air and postal modes destined to New Zealand and Australia.
During the operation, 20,138 examinations were conducted, and CBSA officers made a total of 123 seizures:
- 26,664.6 grams of methamphetamine
- 864 grams of cocaine
- 131 grams of 4-Hydroxbutanoic Acid (GHB)
- 56,638.96 grams and 128 dosages of various cannabis forms
- 32 grams of ketamine
- 283.87 grams of MDMA
- 2.59 grams of methadone
- 1,294.8 grams of psilocybin
Of the 123 seizures, exports to Australia accounted for nearly half (48%) of all cases, while exports to New Zealand accounted for 26% and exports to the United Kingdom 14%. The remaining 12% of seizures were destined for a range of other countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, the Philippines, Japan, Iran, and Spain.
Under Canada's Border Plan, the CBSA expanded its resources to detect and disrupt the fentanyl trade, including increased capacity and new tools for law enforcement to better detect illegal drugs at ports of entry and exit. Specially trained detector dogs are now integrated into front-line operations to safely detect trace amounts of deadly synthetic opioids. As a result, we have seen a marked decrease in fentanyl transiting our borders. Between 2024 and 2025, there has been a 43% decrease in export seizures of fentanyl.
The CBSA will continue to disrupt the supply chain for illicit drugs and deter criminals from exploiting our borders for illegal means as part of Canada's overarching efforts to strengthen border security, combat organized crime and ensure communities here in Canada, and across the world, are protected from dangerous drugs.
