Police are cracking down on fentanyl in Canada but say it has nothing to do with Trump
Canadian authorities have been diligently cracking down on fentanyl trafficking and production long before U.S. President Donald Trump issued threats of severe tariffs if Canada didn’t take action to stop the drug from entering the United States. Police officials in Western Canada emphasized that fentanyl has been a top priority in their enforcement efforts.
Supt. Marc Cochlin, CEO of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams, highlighted the ongoing efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking and production across the country. He mentioned that there has been a significant increase in dismantling and indicting operations involved in fentanyl production due to a concerted effort by law enforcement agencies.
While Trump recently agreed to delay tariffs against Mexico and Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau presented a comprehensive plan to address fentanyl trafficking, including listing Mexican cartels as terrorist entities, increasing border patrols, and appointing a “fentanyl czar.” Cochlin welcomed the agreement but noted that investigators have been actively tackling fentanyl-related crimes even before the recent negotiations.
Cochlin pointed out the significant impact of their efforts by citing statistics that show a substantial decrease in fentanyl seizures at the Canadian border compared to the Mexican border. He emphasized the dismantling of large-scale fentanyl super labs in Western Canada, including a recent discovery in British Columbia where black-market chemists were operating a sophisticated production facility in the forest.
Cpl. Arash Seyed from the RCMP’s federal policing unit highlighted the complexity and scale of these illicit operations, noting that some of the precursors used in the super labs were linked to Mexican drug cartels. Seyed also mentioned evidence suggesting that a portion of the drugs produced were intended for international markets like Australia and New Zealand, rather than the U.S.
In a recent case in Alberta, a top fentanyl player was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his involvement in a significant drug operation. The magnitude of the man’s operation was described as “staggering” by the Court of King’s Bench Justice Nathan Whitling.
Cochlin and Seyed emphasized the importance of regulating chemicals used as precursors for fentanyl production, many of which are imported from China through illegal channels. They highlighted the challenges of detecting these chemicals due to their lack of odor, making seizure difficult.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre proposed harsher penalties for fentanyl trafficking, including mandatory life sentences for those convicted of trafficking, production, and distribution of large quantities of fentanyl if his party wins the upcoming federal election.
Overall, Canadian authorities continue to make significant strides in combating fentanyl trafficking and production, demonstrating a strong commitment to addressing this pressing issue.
