BBE launches customs brokerage to support regulated supply chains

An Edmonton-based logistics company is expanding its international services with the launch of a licensed Canadian customs brokerage aimed at supporting highly regulated cross-border shipments tied to defence, infrastructure and resource development.

BBE said the new brokerage integrates directly into its international freight forwarding division, allowing the company to manage shipments such as defence equipment, controlled goods, aerospace components and critical infrastructure materials through a single Canadian provider.

The company said the move comes as Canada increases investment in Arctic sovereignty, defence modernization and critical mineral development, placing greater emphasis on supply chain security and regulatory compliance.

“Canada’s defence and Arctic strategies depend on secure, reliable movement of equipment and materials across borders,” said Heather Stewart, chief executive officer of BBE. “By bringing customs brokerage in-house, we reduce fragmentation and strengthen oversight at one of the most sensitive points in the supply chain, the border.”

The company said integrating customs brokerage with freight forwarding is intended to reduce delays, compliance risks and security vulnerabilities, particularly for shipments involving controlled goods, dual-use technologies, defence components and northern infrastructure projects.

“When customs and freight operate separately, accountability becomes diluted,” said Kyle Johnston, president of BBE International. “In regulated sectors, especially defence and Arctic development, that risk is unacceptable. Our integrated approach ensures compliance planning begins at origin and continues through final delivery.”

Headquartered in Edmonton, BBE has operated for nearly five decades and focuses on logistics support for industries operating in remote and infrastructure-constrained regions, including energy, mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and construction.

The company said its expanded freight forwarding team now provides multimodal air, ocean and ground transportation supported by the newly licensed customs brokerage to manage regulatory requirements across international borders.