In a black bulletproof vest and armed with a gun, Tim Thayer starts up the 18,000-pound U.S. Customs and Border Protection boat on the Detroit River, powered by four 350-horsepower engines. Thayer, a marine interdiction agent, is part of the team that monitors the waterways forming the Canada-U.S. border in this region.
Thayer’s jurisdiction covers the Detroit sector, which spans Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. The border between the U.S. and Canada here is entirely water-based, stretching 1,388 kilometers. The unique geography of the area places Windsor, Ont., below Detroit, separated by the river and linked by bridges and a tunnel, with millions of people crossing annually.
During patrols on the Detroit River, Thayer keeps watch towards the Windsor shoreline, scanning for any suspicious activity. He notes the movement of people, drugs, and firearms between the two countries during enforcement operations.
Historically, the Windsor-Detroit corridor was a key route for smugglers transporting alcohol into the U.S. illegally during the Prohibition era. Today, while illegal activities on the river have decreased, the presence of numerous recreational boaters poses challenges for law enforcement.
Border officials seized over 4,200 kilograms of illegal drugs, including nearly 15 kilograms of fentanyl, in the Detroit sector in 2025. Despite Trump’s claims of a porous border, statistics indicate a more complex reality, with a significant portion of guns recovered in Ontario traced back to the U.S.
While drugs and weapons flow primarily northward between the two countries, Canada remains a security concern for the U.S. due to issues like inadequate staffing and border security measures. The flow of fentanyl into the U.S. from Canada is minimal compared to the influx from Mexico.
Despite political tensions, U.S. border agents emphasized the consistent working relationship with Canadian counterparts. The strong and strained bond between the two countries is symbolized by the presence of the Gordie Howe bridge as Thayer observes an RCMP boat sailing by.