Thanks very much, Mr. Chair.
Regarding the pattern of firearms flow across the border, particularly with regard to illicit firearms that have been seized, we've definitely seen approximately 1,100 over the past two years. It was 1,109 two years ago. Notwithstanding the gap in time over the pandemic, when we would have seen an artificial reduction in volumes due to the limited travel, that is still an approximately 40% increase from the prepandemic levels.
Overall, we are seeing an increase in illicit firearms as represented by what we seize and interdict, but again that is a representation of what we know, not necessarily of what we do not know. I'm sure there are going to be corresponding volumes increasing as the restrictions potentially are ratified within Canada. Domestically, as the availability of firearms that are then listed or prohibited, or as that evolves, we will tend to see probably an increase in traffic of cross-border firearms smuggling.
As such, we do benefit from the range of investments that have been afforded the CBSA in the past couple of years. We are definitely advancing our ability to detect and to interdict firearms through both technical and K-9 measures, as well as through training in BSO measures. We have a variety of different measures that we're hoping will have a greater impact. I'm hoping that impact will continue to be reflected and present within the statistics for seizures.
I anticipate that we will continue to see an increase in relation to potential domestic legislative changes. At the same time, the agency is attempting to do its best to position itself to better prepare to interdict firearms and deal with an increase in volume through the variety of modes by which we see them arrive in Canada.