Fact Sheet

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January 2005

Contraband Detection Equipment

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) uses a variety of technology to help prevent contraband and dangerous goods from entering Canada. The use of contraband detection technology enables CBSA officers to conduct effective, non-intrusive inspections, and allows the CBSA to focus on high-risk individuals and goods.

Over the past several years, the CBSA has invested approximately $65 million to increase its inventory of contraband detection equipment to include the following:

• 106 X-ray systems, including baggage, mobile, and roll-in cargo systems;
• 12 Mobile Vehicle and Cargo Inspection Systems (VACIS, gamma-ray systems), used to detect contraband, weapons and other dangerous goods in marine containers, rail cars, or trucks;
• 3 Pallet VACIS (gamma-ray systems), used to scan pallets and large pieces of freight at marine container examination facilities;
• 3 Contraband Outfitted Mobile Examination Trucks (COMET), used to transport CBSA officers and contraband detection equipment, allowing for efficient and timely inspections;
• 75 ion mobility spectrometry technology systems and 44 hand-held systems for identifying trace amounts of narcotics residue;
• 5 Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV) for under-vessel detection, used in marine vessel operations;
• 14 specimen isolation toilets, used for the recovery of banned substances at airports, cruise ship terminals and a border crossing;
• 12 flexible videoprobes, used to search for undeclared currency and contraband;
• More than 75 density meters, used at major border and marine ports to determine the density of a surface or object. The meters can discover hidden walls and help the CBSA detect contraband;
• 105 fibrescopes, used at major border and marine ports to view areas that are inaccessible by the naked eye due to obstructions;
• 19 submersible pole cameras, used at marine ports and major commercial border crossings to inspect ships, containers and tractor trailers;
• 23 miniature pole cameras, used at major international airports to inspect aircrafts;
• Over 100 laser range finders, used to measure the inside of commercial containers; and,
• Over 100 mirror kits, used to inspect the undercarriage of vehicles and other hard to reach areas.

These are the latest in the innovative technologies that the CBSA has invested in to stop contraband and dangerous goods from entering Canada. The CBSA continues to explore the use of new state-of-the-art technology to maintain its commitment as an innovative leader in border management.

Photos of various contraband detection equipment.

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