National and Border Security

From coast to coast, national and border security is an organizational priority as a result of the elimination of physical borders to criminality. Using an integrated approach focused on intelligence, we are concentrating our activities on attaining one ultimate objective: to use our relationships with the international community to eliminate criminal activities here at home.

Immigration and Passports Section
Customs and Excise Section
Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET)
Coastal/Airport Watch Program
Combined Port Investigation Unit
Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET)
Airport Federal Investigation Section (AFIS)
Marine Security Enforcement Team (MSET)

Immigration and Passports Section

Members of our Immigration and Passports Section focus their efforts on detecting and repressing major criminal activities connected with immigration, passports and citizenship. These illegal activities include operations to smuggle illegal immigrants into the country, services provided by dishonest immigration counsellors, human trafficking, defrauding of immigration regulations by businesses, and the proliferation of identification cards, visas, passports and other falsified documents. To fight against these activities, the RCMP works closely with two federal departments, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Customs and Excise Section

The "C" Division RCMP Customs and Excise Section fights all forms of smuggling involving organized crime. Investigations mainly deal with alcohol, tobacco, cigar, firearms and jewellery smuggling.

Consult our publication The Consequences of Selling Illegal Tobacco Products.

Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET)

Our Integrated Border Enforcement Team (IBET) works in close co-operation with its Canadian and American partners at the border. Its mandate is to target criminal activity and national border security.

Coastal/Airport Watch Program

The Coastal/Airport Watch Program was established to assist in the identification of persons, vessels, vehicles and aircraft that may constitute a threat to Canada’s national security, or that be involved in illegal activities.

Consult our publication Coastal/Airport Watch Program - Help Protect Canada -
Be our eyes and ears!

Combined Port Investigation Unit

The National Ports Strategy is part of the organization's overall mandate to ensure border integrity. In "C" Division, we have investigators whose roles involve coordinating the collection of intelligence with the intention of seriously disrupting or eliminating the ability of criminal organizations to use the ports to import merchandise or people that could pose a threat to national security.

Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET)

Everywhere in "C" Division, our Integrated National Security Enforcement Team (INSET) is responsible for enforcing the laws on criminal activities that are a direct or indirect threat to the security or the interests of the State. Its scope includes espionage, sabotage, insurgency, treason, terrorism, extremism, offences committed against Canadian or foreign VIPs or diplomats, and offences committed for the purpose of supporting or funding individuals involved in the commission of such offences.

Airport Federal Investigation Section (AFIS)

Members from our Airport Federal Investigation Section are responsible for fighting organized crime at the Montreal – Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and to assist the airport partners and authorities while co-operating with them to ensure passenger safety.

Marine Security Enforcement Team (MSET)

This joint marine security initiative is led by the RCMP and the Canadian Coast Guard to further enhance national security and strengthen Canada's response to potential threats. It strengthens marine enforcement presence in a region heavily traveled by both small and large craft. It involves the deployment of vessels conducting joint security patrols on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence waterway.