Officials can't substantiate claims about Vancouver shipping containers
Over the last few weeks, some social media users have been sharing posts on TikTok claiming to have heard sounds of people coming from inside shipping containers at the Port of Vancouver.
Some posts have received extensive engagement and reactions from followers. Daily Hive has been investigating the issue, including contacting officials at organizations such as the Vancouver Police Department, RCMP, the Port of Vancouver, and the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Based on the information we’ve received so far, no one has been able to substantiate the claims made on social media.
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The short version is that some folks on social media claim that they’ve heard people screaming in shipping containers in Vancouver. The people making the claims are using the hashtag #opentheshippingcontainers:
@mssoulshine2.5 #duet with @Carol Thomas #opentheshippingcontainers #opentheshippingcontainers ♬ Way down We Go – KALEO
Some, like this user on TikTok, claim the phenomenon is happening across Canada:
@sarayoumans4 #unionworkers#abcnews #shippingcontainerhouse #freedomofspeech #journalism#freedomtopost #roguewarriors ♬ original sound – sara bella
Others have posted videos next to some of the containers, hearing nothing at all, like this video with over 1.4 million views:
@happy_lemon18 The Vancouver Port container saga continues… very quiet tonight. No screaming from the containers. #vancouver #vancouverport #openthecontainers ♬ original sound – Baby M
The RCMP referred us to the CBSA. According to a CBSA spokesperson, the agency is aware of the social media posts but does “not have information to substantiate these claims.”
We also put the claims to the Port of Vancouver itself.
“Canada’s ports are internationally recognized for high standards of safety and security. As such, terminal operators at the Port of Vancouver have stringent safety and security measures in place, which are approved and audited by government agencies,” a Port of Vancouver spokesperson told Daily Hive.
“While the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority does not operate any of the container terminals at the port, we work closely with terminal operators, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), RCMP and local police forces to ensure safety and security at Canada’s largest port.”
The spokesperson added that the Port of Vancouver recently partnered with the CBSA “on state-of-the-art container inspection facilities to support national safety and security, including a $42 million container inspection facility in Tsawwassen.”
Still, these agencies aren’t telling people to stop reporting issues if they see them. We’ve also yet to hear back from the VPD.
The Port of Vancouver encourages anyone with concerns or details regarding unverified social media content to contact the police. The CBSA is also asking any member of the public who has information on suspicious cross-border activity to call CBSA Border Watch for non-emergencies at 1-888-502-9060.