CLEVELAND — The U.S. Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police concluded a three-day joint law enforcement operation Sunday along the shared international border at the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Personnel from the RCMP’s maritime unit in Kingston, Ontario, and Coast Guard Station Alexandria Bay, located on Wellesley Island, N.Y., conducted the patrols as part of the collaborative program known as integrated cross-border maritime law enforcement operations, referred to informally as Canada-U.S. Shiprider.
As a result of the operations, several vessels were stopped and boarded by specially trained and designated members of the Coast Guard and RCMP.
Cross-border crime is a two-way challenge that has implications for both U.S. and Canadian citizens. Shiprider removes jurisdictional road blocks associated with an international border. It allows specially trained and cross-designated U.S. and Canadian law enforcement officers to work side by side while under the direct supervision of the host country officer.
“Coast Guard Sector Buffalo is excited to work with RCMP Kingston to strengthen our partnerships and enhance maritime security on our shared waterways,” said Lt. Rianne Troutman, chief of enforcement at Sector Buffalo, Station Alexandria Bay’s parent command.
“Based on the principles of shared border management and effective law enforcement, Shiprider operations respect the sovereignty of both Canada and the United States,” said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Todd Shean. “Shiprider operations are a tool that improves our mutual security in our shared waterways”.
In 2009, the U.S. secretary of homeland security and Canada’s minister of public safety signed the Framework Agreement on ICMLEO between the U.S. and Canada to govern the deployment of operations.
In June 2012, Canada passed legislation, with respect to the framework agreement, which paved the way for ICMELO operations. The final two policy agreements were signed between the two countries in June 2013, enabling Shiprider operations.
This operation follows earlier operations near Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., and Eastport, Maine.
