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The RCMP tried a few years ago to wrestle away control of organized crime investigations being pursued by the Canada Border Services Agency, newly released records show.

The proposal did not sit well with the border agency and never went ahead. But even as both agencies insist they have since struck a collaborative relationship, security experts say the failed proposal illustrates ongoing tensions between the two agencies, which share the responsibility of ensuring the border’s integrity.

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“This reflects an ongoing tug of war of who’s actually in charge when it comes to investigations,” said Christian Leuprecht, a professor at Royal Military College of Canada and Queen’s University who specializes in security and defence matters.

Figuring out who’s in charge of an investigation can be difficult when a case involves a mix of criminal, customs or immigration violations, such as an organized crime network that uses the border as a conduit for the movement of drugs, contraband tobacco, people or counterfeit goods.