US border officials say additional checks of Canada-bound vehicles are here to stay

Global News has the story.

U.S. border officials told Global News that outbound searches of vehicles heading north into Canada are now the norm and will be happening indefinitely.

Global News was given a behind-the-scenes tour of operations at the Blaine border crossing on Thursday and attended more than five hours of presentations from the port director, agriculture specialist and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

U.S. officials say that while the majority of Canadians heading north are bringing back the usual gas and groceries, on May 1, they stepped up vehicle searches for drug smuggling and human trafficking.

Global's Angela Jung reports.