The federal government will unveil new security measures at Canada's airports in a bid to crackdown on illegal cargo, CTV News has learned.

Security experts say that loose security on cargo and other shipments has long been overlooked by federal officials, making it easy for criminals to exploit the system.

While passengers are regularly subjected to thorough searches, and both carry-on and checked baggage is scanned, most cargo is shipped without being seriously checked.

Martin Rudner, a security expert, said the changes are a long-time coming. In fact, it is estimated that shipments often take up 85 per cent of an aircraft's cargo hold.

"There was one gap in the system, and that was air cargo," Rudner told CTV News.

On Monday, six senior cabinet ministers will fan out across the country to announce the new cargo rules.

  • Heritage minister James Moore will speak in Vancouver
  • Environment Minster Jim Prentice is due in Calgary
  • Public Safety Minister Vic Toews will be in Winnipeg
  • Transport Minister John Baird will announce the changes in Toronto
  • Christian Paradis, of public works, will speak in Montreal
  • Defence Minister Peter MacKay is set to speak in Halifax

The government says it wants Canada's aviation to have the best security standards in the world.

Experts believe that the lax rules on cargo have long been exploited by criminals to ship illegal goods right under the noses of authorities.

Rudner said that arms and jewel smuggling are two such examples of widespread illegal activity.

With a report from CTV's Daniele Hamamdjian