The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) signed a Letter of Intent with the customs administrations of the Netherlands, Belgium, and France to strengthen their partnership to combat international drug trafficking and to support the flow of legitimate trade among their countries.

The Letter was signed by the President of the CBSA, Erin O’Gorman, Nanette Van Schelven, the Director General of the Customs Administration of the Netherlands, Kristian Vanderwaeren, Administrator General of Customs and Excise Belgium, and Florian Colas, Director General of Customs and Indirect Taxes of the French Republic. The Letter strengthens a commitment to work closer together to disrupt international drug trafficking by sharing information and best practices between countries and collaborating on joint operations.

One way criminal networks operate is by exploiting vulnerable people and persuading them to carry drugs on their behalf while travelling internationally, sometimes unknowingly. All four customs administrations are working to increase public awareness of this stratagem, warn them of the severity of the consequences, protect potential victims, and stop criminals.

The signing took place in Ottawa on June 2, following meetings with senior representatives from the Government of Canada, on matters related to customs cooperation that helps fighting against fraud, security, AI-enabled border technology and multilateral cooperation. During their visit, the European delegation toured CBSA’s operations in Montréal, including the Port of Montréal, Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, and the Léo-Blanchette Mail Processing Centre, and witnessed the tools and techniques CBSA officers are using to intercept contraband and disrupt organized crime.

The CBSA works closely with domestic and international law enforcement partners to help keep communities safe and prosperous, both at home and abroad.