The Government of Canada has officially launched the Joint Operational Intelligence Cell (JOIC), bringing together Canadian security departments and agencies, and law enforcement partners to better protect Canada's border.
The JOIC was created in response to Canada's Border Plan, specifically as part of the Prime Minister's Directive on Transnational Crime and Border Security. The JOIC will build on existing cooperation mechanisms between law enforcement partners and security agencies to better leverage information sharing to target transnational organized crime, money laundering, drug trafficking and improve border security.
Intelligence representatives from the Royal Canadian Mounted Royal (RCMP), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Public Safety Canada (PS), Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE), Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Health Canada (HC), and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) met on February 24 to work on how to enhance the sharing, disclosure, analysis and actioning of timely intelligence between participating federal security departments and agencies, and sub-national authorities, including law enforcement partners to disrupt trafficking of fentanyl and related transnational organized crime.
The JOIC reinforces Canada's commitment to the border security plan by bringing together an integrated criminal and security intelligence approach to the threat posed by transnational organized crime, including those involved in the fentanyl trade.
Stronger information and intelligence sharing and operational coordination will enable all institutions involved in law enforcement in Canada and the U.S. to better identify, monitor and intercept high-risk individuals and drugs attempting to cross Canada's borders, ultimately improving the safety of all.
