AN internal audit report by the Canada Border Services Agency says better oversight, training and detection technology are needed to keep contraband from entering the country via air cargo.

The report, dated last July, was only recently made public mainly because portions of the document, including details of some risks posed by deficiencies, were considered too sensitive to release, the Canadian Press reported.

But the findings are significant because commercial air cargo accounts for a quarter of all arriving shipments. The audit team visited the high-volume airports in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal plus three unidentified smaller ones in their study of the agency's air cargo examination programme.

However, the report does highlight one risk - that weaknesses mean "contraband and other unacceptable items could be brought into Canada," possibly with the help of corrupt people working in airports.

The report also expressed concerns about possible inconsistencies from region to region in training border officers. In addition, the availability and usefulness of tools to help with examinations varied across the country.

The audit recommends the border agency strengthen oversight of commercial air cargo, ensure standardised delivery of training and "address gaps in detection technology".

The border services agency did not make anyone available for an interview after the report was released.

However, the report spells out the border agency's plans for improvement, including stronger communication between headquarters and the regions; improved quality of examination results recorded by field officers; revised national training for officers; and purchase of new detection technology for the highest-risk air cargo locations by March.

"It should be noted that the absence of detection technology does not prevent effective examinations as borders services officers are trained to conduct examinations without such technology," the management response said.