Global Affairs Canada is refuting claims from an anti-war think tank that Canada bears legal responsibility for providing sensor technology used in U.S. airstrikes targeting drug cartels in international waters. The department maintains that no domestic laws were violated.
Project Ploughshares, a Waterloo, Ont.-based anti-war research institute, released a report Monday calling last month’s U.S. airstrikes against alleged cartel members in the Caribbean Sea “unlawful extrajudicial killings.” The report condemned Canada for selling technology used in the strike.
U.S. airstrikes in international waters on Sept. 2, 2025, killed 11 alleged members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua. The strikes were part of President Donald Trump’s anti-terrorism measures against recently designated “narco-terrorist” entities.
Two weeks later, another boat allegedly linked to Tren de Aragua was similarly destroyed in an airstrike.
In February, the Liberal government headed by former prime minister Justin Trudeau at the time listed Tren de Aragua along with six other transnational narco-cartels as terrorist entities.
Project Ploughshares and UN officials determined the attacks were extrajudicial killings, violating international law.
A Project Ploughshares investigation confirmed both operations used advanced electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor systems built by L3Harris WESCAM in Hamilton, Ontario.
Global Affairs Canada did not deny Canadian technology was used when True North asked.
“Canada is legally bound to ensure that its export of military goods does not contribute to violations of international law. But because of a decades-old agreement between Canada and the United States, most military goods that Canada sends to its southern neighbour — including the WESCAM sensors used in these operations — bypass the very export controls designed to prevent Canadian technology from contributing to such abuses,” Ploughshares said.
Global Affairs Canada spokesperson Charlotte MacLeod told True North it is “aware” of the U.S. operation and is “monitoring the situation.” However, she stated Canada breached no law in selling the sensor technology to its U.S. partners.
“Not all exports from Canada require an export permit. The Export Control List identifies specific goods and technology that do require a permit, using carefully selected technical parameters such as specific features or capabilities,” MacLeod said. “These technical parameters are based on Canada’s international obligations as a signatory to multilateral or bilateral agreements and regimes.”
One such international agreement is the Wassenaar Arrangement with over 40 countries that influences the export of items that are specially designed for military use or that are key elements of military capabilities:
GAC argues the sensors are not on Canada’s Export Control List, but fall under a Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, which is only for “tariff, economic and trade purposes, not for controlling military or dual-use exports.”
The Canadian designation of Tren de Aragua and other narco-cartels prohibits financing, recruitment, or travel linked to the groups. It also mandates that Canadian financial institutions freeze their assets.
The designation gives law enforcement broader authority to track, trace, and disrupt the groups’ financial assets, and widens other powers against them. It would not permit Canada to conduct airstrikes against the organization.
Critics say the Trump administration could face legal challenges alleging the airstrikes violated international law. However, U.S. courts rarely compel the government to provide proof of legality due to presidential immunity and other factors.