CBSA launches first canine unit specialized in fentanyl detection

Canada Border Services officer Samuel St. Pierre and his drug and firearms detection dog Jackson demonstrate their daily operations at Highway 55 Port of Entry in Stanstead, Que., Thursday, March 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

The Canada Border Services Agency says it will begin to deploy its first canine unit specialized in detecting fentanyl.

The border agency announced the new measures on Thursday following an induction ceremony of 57 new officers at Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) College in Rigaud, Que.

Kevin Brosseau, Canada’s fentanyl czar, says stopping the flow of illegal drugs across the border demands “a relentless, multi-layered approach.”

“By deploying these new officers and innovative, new specialized canine teams, Canada is hardening its borders and keeping communities safe,” Brosseau said in a statement.

In 2025, the CBSA reported more than 31, 600 drug seizures which involved fentanyl.

The CBSA says it “currently has more than 80 detection dog teams deployed across various ports of entry throughout Canada,” but the specialized fentanyl unit will be a first of its kind.

The measures are part of the federal government’s 2025 budget and Canada’s border plan, which aims to “strengthen border security and the immigration system” through a $1.3-billion investment.

The investment follows increased calls in 2025 to boost border security in an effort to curb the trafficking of deadly drugs across the Canada-U.S. border.

Last year, fentanyl became a focus point after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian goods if the federal government did not make bigger efforts to halt drug trafficking.

The CBSA says a large portion of the money was allocated to the alliance in order to “enhance its operations and modernize its detection tools,” as it acts as Canada’s line of defence at more than 1,200 service points.