By Nia Williams
(Reuters) – The Western Canadian province of Alberta will spend C$29 million ($20.46 million) to create a new sheriff-led patrol unit to police its 298-kilometer (185-mile) border with the U.S. state of Montana, the premier said on Thursday.
Alberta’s plan follows a pledge from President-elect Donald Trump to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico unless those countries crack down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Premier Danielle Smith said Alberta has been working on increasing border security since July 2023 but Trump’s tariff threat prompted the province to accelerate its plan.
Alberta is Canada’s main oil-producing province and exports around 4 million barrels per day to the U.S., meaning it would be among the provinces hardest-hit by tariffs.
The new Interdiction Patrol Team will be part of the Alberta Sheriffs law enforcement agency and consist of 51 uniformed officers armed with carbine rifles, four drug-patrol dogs, 10 support staff, four narcotics analyzers to test for drugs and surveillance drones.
Alberta will also create a two-kilometer-deep border zone in which sheriffs will be able to arrest people found attempting to cross the border illegally or trafficking illegal drugs or weapons, without needing a warrant.
“Today’s announcement represents a strong investment from Alberta’s government that reflects the seriousness with which we’re treating this current situation,” said Alberta Minister of Public Safety Mike Ellis, speaking at a press conference alongside Smith.
Alberta has six official points of entry along its sparsely populated border with Montana.
($1 = 1.4177 Canadian dollars)
(Reporting by Nia Williams in British Columbia; Editing by Rod Nickel)
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