Question Period Note: Contraband and Drones

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) continues to respond to the threat posed by drones and contraband with a layered approach which includes the use of security practices, adoption of technologies, intelligence activities and infrastructure enhancements. Specifically, this includes:

• Protecting the safety and security of our institutions remains a top priority for the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC).

• CSC responds to the threat posed by drones through several security practices, intelligence activities, technological supports, and infrastructure enhancements.

• This includes current work on the deployment of body scanners at institutions while working towards the implementation of radiofrequency jammers to prevent unauthorized communications and contraband deliveries.

• We are confident that with further technological innovations, along with the ability of our frontline officers to detect and seize contraband, we will continue to produce better results, through increased seizures or decreased introduction of contraband into institutions.

Technological Supports
• Intrusion detection systems (drones and throw-overs)
• Ferromagnetic detectors;
• Ion scanners; and
• Increased adoption of body scanners.

Non-Technological Security Supports
• Detector Dog Teams (drugs, firearms and ammunition, electronic storage devices); and
• Infrastructure enhancements.

We continue to research and introduce new technologies as they become available to facilitate the detection of contraband, including contraband introduced via drones. Recently, in October 2024, regulations governing the use of body scanners came into force and we are now working on the deployment of these systems. To further complement existing measures, in March 2025 it was announced that CSC will have an exemption to use radiofrequency jammers in institutions to prevent unauthorized communications and contraband deliveries. For security purposes, CSC is not disclosing publicly details on the specifics of the use of technology, including where the technology will be used.
Since 2015-16, drug-related seizures within our institutions have increased by nearly 170% (from 2,444 to 6,586), due to the ongoing vigilance of correctional staff, particularly in dealing with the increase in UAV (drone) incursions. We are confident that with further technological innovations that make it easier to detect and seize contraband items, along with the ability and professionalism of our frontline officers, we will continue to produce better results, through increased seizures or decreased introduction of contraband into institutions.

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