As we near the end of the year, the Canada Border Service Agency is releasing its end-of-year report regarding seizures at the border in Southern Ontario.
It operates many border crossings across the province, including the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel, the Ambassador Bridge, and the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia.
Kevin Brosseau, Canada's fentanyl czar, said he cannot overstate the importance of the work carried out each day by CBSA officers.
"Their vigilance in intercepting fentanyl and other illicit substances before they reach our communities has had a profound impact on the safety of all Canadians," he said. "As a vital part of Canada's enforcement ecosystem, their work with partners helps stop harm before it starts."
Out of the 4,083 illegal drug and contraband tobacco seizures at southern Ontario ports of entry, border officials seized 1,632 kg of cocaine, 350 kg of methamphetamine, three kg of opioids, 96 kg of illegal cannabis, and a whopping 748,559 kg of tobacco.
Highlights of the year for border officers at the Blue Water Bridge included the seizure of 1,317 kg of cocaine and 349 kg of methamphetamine in various commercial shipments from the U.S.
In June, the federal government announced a massive border bill, the Strong Borders Act, that included updating surveillance powers for border officers and intelligence agencies, tightening the asylum claim system and clamping down on importing chemicals used to make illegal drugs. It also includes $1-billion in new spending on border security. The bill could be passed in the new year.
The legislation was in response to pressure from the U.S. government, which used the southbound flow of fentanyl and migrants to justify its trade war.
In the first ten months of this year, border officials at the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel and Ambassador Bridge seized 150 firearms and 813 prohibited weapons and devices from travellers entering the country.
Across southern Ontario, 352 firearms were seized, along with 5,675 miscellaneous parts for firearms or magazines. A total of 795 prohibited weapons and 424 devices were confiscated.
A total of $1.6-million in undeclared currency was seized, 148 people were arrested for impaired driving offences, and four children who were reported missing were reunited with their families.
"CBSA officers stand on guard for Canada every hour of every day," added President of the CBSA, Erin O'Gorman. "In 2025, the CBSA stopped transnational organized crime networks at our front door, found foreign companies that undervalue their goods and charged them, and stopped and removed inadmissible foreign nationals who try to come into Canada under false pretences. And we are gearing up to do the same and more in 2026."
Across Ontario, the number of asylum applications processed at the CBSA fell 59 per cent compared to last year. There were 22,939 applications at border points across the province in 2024, and in 2025, there were 9,350.
Forty-six per cent of land border travellers came through ports of entry in southern Ontario this past year, a total of 16.5 million people.
Border guards also processed 2,574,619 commercial trucks and 3.2 million courier shipments, assessed $14.3-billion in duties and taxes, and $94.1-billion in value for duty on goods imported by trusted traders.
