U.S. Border Patrol building new fence along Aldergrove boundary to prevent drugs, trafficking

ALDERGROVE (NEWS 1130) — The U.S. border patrol claims it had to put up a fence along the boundary near the Aldergrove border crossing because of drug and human traffickers.

Initially, Julie Shuker who lived in the Pioneer Park in Aldergrove said she was stunned to see a fence going up on the American side of the border.

RELATED: Fence built along Canada-U.S. border south of Aldergrove

Minister of Public Safety Bill Blair’s office and U.S. Border Patrol have since confirmed with NEWS 1130, safety cable barriers are being installed in the area to help stop people from crossing over.

“U.S. Customs and Border Patrol has installed a low-vehicle barrier along our shared border to prevent accidents from cars crossing over the median into oncoming lanes,” Blair’s office says.

But Border Patrol also added the area is vulnerable, and claim ‘transnational criminal organizations’ have been taking advantage of it.

“This project addresses bi-national safety concerns related to a vulnerable section of the border located between Boundary Road in the U.S. and Zero Avenue in Canada,” the statement reads.

In the Border Patrol statement, Acting Chief Patrol Agent Tony Holladay, he says the cable will not only protect Canadians and Americans but will aid in securing the U.S. “by deterring illegal vehicle entries in both directions.”

“Locally in our community, trans-national criminal organizations have capitalized on this vulnerable area by smuggling both narcotics and people. The enhancement to this specific border area mitigates the threat posed by these dangerous criminal enterprises,” he says.

Wednesday morning, Shuker, said she first spotted the workers putting up posts on the American side of the border Tuesday.

The stretch of the border has become controversial since people from both sides had been meeting up there during the pandemic.

“Canada and the U.S. have long shared the most efficient border in the world and we intend to keep it that way. As this barrier has been installed between ports of entry, this will not impact vital supply chains or essential travel,” Blair’s statement adds.

The Canada-U.S. border has been closed to non-essential travel until Sept. 21.

– With files from Ria Renouf and Martin MacMahon

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