Tim Thayer, a marine interdiction agent, operates an 18,000-pound U.S. Customs and Border Protection boat on the Detroit River, wearing a black bulletproof vest and armed with a gun on his hip. Tasked with patrolling the waterways along the Canada-U.S. border in this region, Thayer belongs to the Detroit sector covering Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. The border between Canada and the U.S. in this area spans 1,388 kilometers entirely through water, presenting a unique challenge.
Situated south of Detroit across the river lies Windsor, Ont., connected by two bridges and a tunnel, with approximately seven million individuals crossing annually. Thayer scans the Windsor shoreline on a warm Wednesday afternoon, vigilantly observing any unusual activities. He notes the flow of people, narcotics, and firearms moving between the U.S. and Canada during enforcement patrols on the Detroit River.
Despite the Detroit-Windsor corridor being a historical route for smugglers during the Prohibition era, present-day illegal activities on the Detroit River are not as rampant. However, the large number of recreational boaters poses a challenge for law enforcement efforts. Intelligence and partnerships are crucial for securing the area effectively.
In 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump blamed Canada for inadequate drug control, leading to the imposition of tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The U.S. Supreme Court later overturned these tariffs. Contrary to Trump’s portrayal of a porous border, statistics indicate complexities in drug and weapon trafficking patterns.
U.S. border officials in the Detroit sector seized over 4,200 kilograms of illegal drugs in 2025, including nearly 15 kilograms of fentanyl. Notably, a significant percentage of firearms seized in Ontario crimes trace back to the U.S., highlighting the northward movement of guns. Despite concerns raised by Trump, the fentanyl smuggling issue from Canada is relatively minor compared to flows from Mexico.
The fentanyl czar in Canada refuted claims of Canada posing a major drug-trafficking threat, citing CBP data showing minimal fentanyl seizures at the Canada-U.S. border compared to the Mexico-U.S. border. Despite political tensions, U.S. border agents emphasized the continued strong partnerships with Canadian counterparts. Amidst the Gordie Howe bridge’s presence symbolizing the countries’ relationship, the bond between the U.S. and Canada remains both robust and strained today.