Joint Operational Intelligence Cell

About

The Joint Operational Intelligence Cell (JOIC) brings together major security and law enforcement departments and agencies from the Government of Canada. Their collective goal is to enhance the production and sharing of actionable intelligence analysis related to transnational organized crime and illicit drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl.

The establishment of the JOIC is a pillar that reinforces Canada's commitment to strengthen public safety and border security, and stop drug trafficking, by connecting key players in the national security, intelligence and law enforcement communities. The JOIC will also contribute to broader efforts, by the Government of Canada, to enhance information sharing between federal, provincial, territorial and municipal law-enforcement partners, including police of jurisdiction, and seek opportunities to collaborate with key international partners, including in the U.S., to address cross-border threats.

By working together, law-enforcement and security agencies can better disrupt drug trafficking and other crimes carried out by international criminal groups, including foreign-based cartels.

Mandate

The JOIC aims to:

use intelligence analysis to quickly identify possible threats and criminal networks;
provide an environment to identify and resolve information sharing challenges;
identify and share intelligence that enables law-enforcement and security agencies in Canada and abroad to take disruptive action; and
work collaboratively with provinces, territories and police of jurisdiction, as well as international partners, to support ongoing efforts to tackle cross-border illicit drug trafficking and the transnational crime networks that enable it.

Membership

The JOIC includes the following core members:

Public Safety Canada
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Communications Security Establishment
Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Canada Border Services Agency
Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada

Other government departments may be asked to support the JOIC when their expertise or information is needed. These departments are:

Canada Revenue Agency
Department of Finance
Health Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada
Transport Canada