Residents of a New Brunswick island community that can only be accessed from a bridge attached to the U.S. mainland are outraged, alleging that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents have been opening and searching their Canada Post mail.

Campobello locals suspect that the inspections by U.S. agents have been going on for months. Mail arrives via a bonded Canada Post truck that briefly travels through Maine before re-entering Canada to make deliveries.

CTV News reports that Cannabis New Brunswick, the province’s only licensed cannabis retailer, has suspended shipments to the island, albeit on a temporary basis after being notified that some of the packages sent out were searched at the border.

Medical cannabis is legal in Maine, with adult-use retail sales expected to kick in sometime I March 2020 – but it’s illegal in the U.S. federally, meaning it is illegal at the border. It is also illegal to bring cannabis across the border, both entering and leaving Canada.

“It’s not even a miscellaneous delivery truck, it’s a Canada Post vehicle with a bonded driver and the mail is being molested by U.S. authorities.”

Conservative MP John Williamson says the alleged spike in searches may have something to do with Canada’s federal legalization of cannabis, which came into force in October 2018 – although he concedes that this is a “suspicion” as opposed to fact.

He adds that the searches have been going on for too long and are a violation of islanders’ privacy, saying those rights should be a “top concern” for Canadians.

“It’s not even a miscellaneous delivery truck, it’s a Canada Post vehicle with a bonded driver and the mail is being molested by U.S. authorities,” Williamson told CTV News. “Canada Post is a well-run, well-regarded institution … there has to be some acknowledgement of that on the U.S. side.”

According to Williamson, it’s not just suspicious packages that U.S. border agents are searching, but “any piece of mail, any package” – including personal letters, medical documents, and other sensitive information – which “should be protected as the first priority” to safeguard the privacy of Campobello residents.

Can U.S. Border patrol legally search domestic Canadian mail?

CBP reps did not say whether or not the searches had occurred, but issued a statement outlining their rights.

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has the right to stop and search any vehicle at their discretion and detain or seize any item which they deem to be inadmissible. We respect their rights and legal responsibilities and have been working with our CBP counterparts to help resolve any concerns and improve service,” the statement said.

Unfortunately for cannabis-loving Campobellans, that means access to legal weed has been seriously hindered.

Williamson says he will raise the issue again in Parliament, with the minister of foreign affairs, and with U.S. law enforcement to try to come to an agreement that suits both countries.