The RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency are operating Chinese-made drones, even as the Mounties refuse to reveal what they are used for, citing national-security concerns.

The disclosures appear in a response to an order paper question examining the federal government’s use of Chinese-manufactured drones and the security risks associated with the technology.

The RCMP confirmed possessing Chinese-made drones but withheld operational details on national-security grounds. CBSA also acknowledged using the technology, raising questions about whether sensitive images, flight information or other data collected during border and police operations could be vulnerable to foreign access.

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Chinese-made drones have faced intense scrutiny among Canada’s allies because of potential surveillance, cybersecurity and data-security risks. The U.S. Department of Defense has designated Chinese drone manufacturer DJI as a Chinese military company, while American authorities have restricted the purchase and importation of some Chinese drone technology.

The Department of National Defence would not disclose whether it uses Chinese-made drones. Global Affairs Canada and Transport Canada said they could not confirm whether the aircraft were being operated within their departments.

Despite those concerns, Chinese drones are spread throughout the federal government.

Correctional Service Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian Heritage, Crown-Indigenous Relations, Indigenous Services, Employment and Social Development Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency all reported using them.

The list also includes the National Research Council, Statistics Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada and the Transportation Safety Board.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada offered one of the more unusual explanations for its fleet: promoting immigration to Canada.

“The drones are used for unclassified routine communications/video production to promote immigration to the country,” the department said.

IRCC said its drone footage consists of wide shots filmed within Canada to establish locations before presenting stories about “successful immigration.”

While Immigration Canada says its flights are routine and unclassified, the refusal of security agencies to disclose how the same technology is used leaves a more serious question unanswered: why are Chinese-made drones operating inside sensitive Canadian law-enforcement and border agencies at all?