Preclearance: Secondary Processing Area
Right to be brought before a senior officer
Before a preclearance officer can conduct a frisk search for concealed goods or a strip search, or request a monitored bowel movement, the preclearance officer must inform you of your right to be brought before a supervisor/senior officer.
If you elect to be brought before a supervisor/senior officer, the search cannot be conducted unless the supervisor/senior officer agrees that the preclearance officer is authorized to conduct the search.
Frisk search for concealed goods
For the purpose of conducting preclearance, a preclearance officer may conduct a frisk search (pat down) if they have reasonable grounds to suspect you have concealed goods on your person.
This search authority is subject to your right to be taken before a supervisor/ senior officer and your right to be searched by an officer of the same sex or a suitable person of the same sex.
Strip search (partial body search)
A preclearance officer may detain you for a strip search (a visual inspection of a person’s unclothed or partially clothed body) if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that you have concealed goods or anything that would present a danger to human life or safety on your person and if that search is necessary for the purpose of conducting preclearance.
Upon detention, the preclearance officer must request a Canadian border services officer conduct the search.
If the Canadian border services officer is unable to conduct the search within a reasonable or agreed-upon time period or declines to conduct the search then the preclearance officer may conduct the search. The search by the preclearance officer must be conducted in a manner consistent with Canadian law.
This search authority is subject to your right to be taken before a supervisor/ senior officer and your right to be searched by an officer of the same sex or a suitable person of the same sex.
Monitored bowel movement
A preclearance officer may detain you for the purpose of a monitored bowel movement if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that you are concealing goods inside your body, the monitoring would permit the finding or retrieval of those goods and the monitoring is necessary for the purpose of conducting preclearance.
A preclearance officer does not have authority to conduct this type of search. Once you are detained, the preclearance officer must deliver you into the custody of a Canadian border services officer.
X-ray or body cavity search
A preclearance officer or Canadian border services officer may request an x-ray search or body cavity search if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that you are concealing goods inside your body, the search would permit the finding, identification or retrieval of the goods and the search is necessary for the purpose of conducting preclearance.
Your consent is required before an x-ray or body cavity search can be conducted unless the officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that there is a clear and substantial danger to your health or safety.
Only an x-ray technician, with the consent of a physician, can conduct an x-ray search. Only a physician can conduct a body cavity search.
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