The new measures will immediately combat illegal immigration and drug traffick

 The Alberta government is taking swift action  to curb illegal border  activity and strengthen the  country's border security.  The new measures will immediately  combat illegal  immigration and drug trafficking across the  border.
"We cannot take border security lightly. By establishing this new team of sheriffs  on our southern border, we are  proactively working to address security concerns and stop criminals whose activities  destroy lives on both sides of the border."
Danielle Smith, Premier
A new Interdiction Patrol Team (IPT) within the Alberta Sheriffs will  combat drug smuggling,  firearms trafficking and other illegal activities occurring along Alberta's 298-kilometre international  border. The IPT will be supported by:
51 uniformed officers  armed with rifles  (tactical weapons);
10 support staff, including dispatchers and analysts;
four drug patrol dogs,  essential to  ensuring reasonable suspicion  during vehicle searches;
10 cold-weather surveillance drones that can operate in high winds with dedicated pilots;  And
four narcotics analyzers for  the detection of illegal drugs. This team will patrol to detect and  seize illegal drugs, illegal firearms and  illegal attempts  to illegally cross the international  border.
The Alberta government will also create a  two-kilometre-deep critical border zone,  considered critical infrastructure, to  allow sheriffs to arrest  people attempting to cross the border illegally or  smuggle illegal drugs or weapons, without  the need for a warrant. This critical border zone will be created by amending regulations under the Critical Infrastructure  Protection Act. This will not apply to people  legally travelling  on Alberta highways and  roads.
"The Alberta government is  strengthening border  surveillance. We have long recognized the need for additional  capabilities to patrol  Alberta's vulnerable international borders, where illegal activity  of all kinds is  rampant. I look forward to working with our law enforcement  colleagues and government  partners to send a clear message to  potential criminals: criminal activity, such as fentanyl trafficking, will not be tolerated at our borders or anywhere in our  province. »
Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency  Services
"Stopping illegal cross-border  activity at the source prevents  it from spreading further into the rest of the  province, and Alberta  sheriffs are proud to step up and take on this important  role."
Bob Andrews,  Sheriff of  Alberta
"No matter what uniform we  wear or  the organization we represent, law enforcement across the province  is aggressively  targeting drug  traffickers, disrupting the fentanyl  trade, and  keeping our communities  safe."