Prince Rupert Border Services Agents make major chemical seizure

"This seizure comes as welcome news for families and communities across Canada. I commend the CBSA on this significant seizure of precursor chemicals, and for successfully preventing harmful drugs from finding their way to our streets and communities." -- Statement from Public Safety Minister Vic Toews on the announcment of a significant chemical seizure at Fairview Terminals


The efforts of the Prince Rupert office of the CBSA have taken a large volume of chemicals out of the hands of illegal drug manufacturers, after a major seizure at the Fairview Terminal.

The seizure of over 14 tonnes of precursor chemicals, which are used in such illegal drugs as methamphetamine, ecstasy and date rape drugs, was the largest confiscation of illegal chemicals in the port's history.

The chemicals were found in 552 jugs which had been shipped from China by container, the shipment had been disguised in shipping declarations as glycerin.

The success of the CBSA at Fairview Port is being heralded by the government as a significant step in the nation's Anti Drug Strategy, as outlined a statement from the Public Safety Minister Vic Toews.

Wednesday's announcement marked the third time that CBSA officers at Prince Rupert have intercepted chemical transits over the last two years.

As word spread of the major seizure at Farivew, a variety of news services picked up on the story.

CBSA Press Release (with photos)

The local newspaper the Northern View provided this submitted report to their website on Wednesday.

Some of the other reports from across North America can be found below.

Vancouver Province-- Prince Rupert border officers intercept 14 tonnes of chemicals used for making illegal drugs
Vancouver Sun-- Customs agents seize 14 tonnes of precursor chemicals in Prince Rupert
Global BC-- Customs agents seize 14 tonnes of precursor chemicals in Prince Rupert
24 Hours Vancouver-- Border officials seize 14 tonnes of drug chemicals
Toronto Sun-- Border authorities seize 14 tonnes of drug precursor chemicals
Prince George Citizen-- CBSA seizes 14 tonnes of drug chemicals in Prince Rupert
US Politics Today-- Public Safety Minister Vic Toews Congratulates Canada Border Services on a Significant Seizure of Precursor Chemicals

Prince Rupert to be home of Beyond the Border Pilot Project

A project designed to improve the speed and efficiency of shipping international goods, through Canadian ports to American markets, has had its debut in Prince Rupert.

"The Beyond the Border pilot will introduce efficiencies in cross-border cargo movements, further enhancing Canadian commerce with our largest trading partner, said Don Krusel, President and CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority. "And as the site of one of the two Canadian pilot projects, we anticipate building on the Port of Prince Rupert's reputation as a world-class trade gateway." -- Port of Prince Rupert CEO Don Krusel, outlining a new pilot project and its expectations for the Port of Prince Rupert

The initiative is part of the Beyond the Border  agreement signed on December 7, 2011 between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Steven Harper.

The project will feature Canadian Border Service Agency personnel inspecting cargo in Canada and then securing it with bolt seals for transit to market destinations around North America.

Incoming product will be assessed for risk by the Virginia based U. S. National Targeting Centre, which will identify those shipments at highest risk. CBSA personnell will then conduct examinations  for both security and contraband on behalf of the U. S. Customs and Border Protection Service. Information from Prince Rupert inspections will be shared in real time between the two Security services, making use of an electronic information system developed in the US.

That inspection process, culminating in the fixing of the bolt seals on the containers upon release of the shipment, will mean the product in transit will no longer require a secondary inspection at the US border. The result of which should be an even faster period of time of delivery than is already in effect between Prince Rupert and the US.

The details of the pilot project were outlined Sunday in a press release from the Canadian Border Services Agency. The pilot project in Prince Rupert will provide for an additional facet of the national Integrated Cargo Security Strategy.

The new process of shipment inspection out of Prince Rupert went into effect on October 1st and is a joint effort of both Canada and the United States, the cost of the pilot project is to be shared between both countries.


U. S. Politics Today-- Canada and the U. S. Announce Prosperity Enhancing Beyond the Border Project
Vancouver Province-- Pilot project aims to improve transport of goods from Prince Rupert to U. S.
Journal of Commerce-- US, Canada Launch Prince Rupert Pilot for Cross-Border Trade
Canadian Manufacturing-- Prince Rupert starts harmonized cargo screening
Government Security News-- Prince Rupert pilot program aimed at strengthening cargo security
Port Technology International -- Port of Prince Rupert pilots Canada-US cargo screening project