Clad in protective gear and armed, Tim Thayer starts up a U.S. Customs and Border Protection boat on the Detroit River, powered by four 350-horsepower engines. Thayer, a marine interdiction agent, patrols the water border between Canada and the United States in the Detroit sector, covering Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. This area presents a unique challenge as the entire 1,388-kilometer border is made up of waterways.
Located south of Detroit, Windsor, Ont., is separated from the U.S. by the river, connected by bridges and a tunnel with millions of people crossing annually. Thayer keeps a watchful eye on the Windsor shoreline during enforcement patrols, monitoring for illegal activities like smuggling of people, narcotics, and firearms between the two countries.
In the past, the Windsor-Detroit corridor was a hot spot for alcohol smugglers during Prohibition. While such illegal activities have decreased, the high number of recreational boaters poses a challenge for law enforcement efforts. Intelligence and partnerships are crucial for securing this region effectively, according to Kris Grogan, CBP’s chief of external communications.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of border threats have sparked tensions between the U.S. and Canada. Despite this, U.S. border officials in the Detroit sector seized significant amounts of illegal drugs and firearms in recent years. The flow of drugs and weapons tends to be northwards, with a notable percentage of crime guns in Ontario traced back to the U.S.
The issue of border security remains complex, with differing perspectives on the extent of threats posed by Canada. While Trump has raised concerns about drug trafficking, statistics show that significantly more drugs are seized at the Mexico-U.S. border compared to the Canada-U.S. border. The ongoing political tensions have not affected the working relationship between U.S. and Canadian border agencies, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in maintaining border security.
