Gangs and Drugs: Maintaining Border Security Using Crime Analysis and GIS

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the Canadian border. There are multiple layers of complexity involved in protecting Canadian land and citizens. Drug smuggling in particular is a large focus for the agency. This paper provides an overview on the fundamentals of crime analysis as it is used in the intelligence capacity to conduct risk assessments as they pertain to foreign travellers and goods attempting to enter Canada. In addition, the complexity of gang networks as they are involved in drug smuggling are examined, as well as how CBSA can utilize network analysis and geographic information systems (GIS) to aid investigations and operations planning.