13,800 weapons and firearms seized at Canadian borders in 2023, a 75% increase from 2022

Canada has seen a big boost in travellers in 2023 and also the number of weapons and drugs seized crossing the borders.

People returned to travel in a big way this year. About 73.7 million travellers entered Canada between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, approximately 46 per more than in 2022, according to a press release on the 2023 year-in-review from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Many entered through Pearson Airport in Mississauga — about 12.3 million people, Adam James, a spokesperson CBSA told insauga.com.

Across Canada, there were 29.2 million travellers by air, 40.8 million by land, 3.4 million by marine travel, and over 248,200 by rail.

Of those entering Canada, almost 59,500 were asylum claimants. There were over 22,200 Afghans and more than 169,100 Ukrainians.

And close to 387,100 international students entered the country.

These numbers were expected as the pandemic lockdowns ended, said James.

As tourism increased so to did illegal activities.

Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31, the CBSA made over 13,800 weapons and firearms seizures, an increase of 75 per cent from 2022.

There were 49 firearms and 842 replica firearms intercepted in the GTA area, which includes Hamilton and Kitchener-Waterloo, said James. There were also 6,200 prohibited weapons seized.

“So that’s coming through all those airports and different modes, in commercial shipments (and) in courier shipments,” James said.

There were also more than 50,800 kilograms of drugs, narcotics and chemicals seized entering Canada, representing a 35 per increase from 2022.  Drugs seized include 0.56 kg of fentanyl, 88 kg of heroin, 1,475 kg of cocaine, 46,451 kg of other drugs, narcotics and precursor chemicals, representing a 61 per cent increase from 2022.

Suspected narcotics seized at the Peace Bridge on March 14, 2023. (Photo: Canada Border Services Agency)

In the GTA area, there were over 3,000 seizures of various kinds of narcotics.

Notably, at Pearson Airport in Mississauga, approximately $4.8 million worth of heroin was found in a suitcase.

“And again, through Pearson. 1.7 million worth of cocaine was located in suitcases with false linings,” James said.

At Pearson’s commercial screening area, officers found $2.3 million in suspected ketamine hidden in the false bottom of an exhaust fan, he added.

In collaboration with local police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, port authorities and insurance fraud and theft associations, the CBSA intercepted 1,573 stolen vehicles in Canada before they were shipped abroad, compared to 1,348 in 2022.

There were 12 missing children reunited with their loved ones, as part of the Our Missing Children Program.

The CBSA marked its 20th anniversary in 2023.

“Every single day, the Canada Border Services Agency welcomes travellers and processes goods, supports our immigration system, and stops illegal guns and deadly drugs from entering the country,” said Erin O’Gorman, president of the Canada Border Services Agency, in the press release.

“As we celebrate CBSA’s 20^th anniversary, I want to thank border services officers and all employees across the country and around the world for their steadfast commitment to keeping our communities safe and our economy strong.”

For more information, see the 2023 year-in-review release here.