Question Period Note: Increased Seizures of Fentanyl by the RCMP

On May 9, 2021, ICI Alberta reported that seizures of fentanyl by the RCMP have doubled between 2019 and 2020 at the national level.

• The Government of Canada is committed to the safety and security of Canadians. This includes taking action against the dangers posed by illicit substances, including fentanyl, which is the main driver of the opioids overdose crisis.

• The transnational organized crime threat environment in Canada is constantly changing. The RCMP investigates the most significant organized crime threats to Canada.

• The RCMP cooperates with local, federal, and foreign partners to disrupt the flow of illicit drugs entering or exiting Canada.

• Since 2017, there have been 30,121 grams of fentanyl seized at Canadian ports of entry.

• As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, the Government of Canada is continuing to monitor emerging trends in the illicit drug market and is engaging with its portfolio and international partners to advance supply reduction policies to mitigate the harms posed by these substances.

On May 9, 2021, ICI Alberta reported that RCMP seizures of fentanyl have doubled between 2019 and 2020 at the national level. In 2020, 107 kg of fentanyl was reportedly seized.

Worldwide, criminal networks involved in the illicit drug market are increasingly complex and transnational in nature. Transnational Serious and Organized Crime (TSOC) networks in Canada and abroad are expanding their methods of trafficking to include utilizing the surface web and dark web to anonymously access a range of illegal goods and services in small quantities. Products purchased online are often shipped by post using various packaging techniques in an effort to disguise or circumvent detection.

The RCMP investigates the most significant organized crime threats, and uses a prioritization process to determine which individuals and groups represent a serious threat so that RCMP resources can be focused accordingly. To combat these threats, the RCMP has implemented a national operational strategy to guide both intelligence and investigative efforts targeting all aspects of the illicit drug market, including importers, distributors, online (surface and dark web) vendors, manufacturers and traffickers. The majority of investigations are focused on organized crime groups that traffic multiple commodities, within Canada or internationally.

Working with partners is essential in the fight against illicit drugs. As such, the RCMP works with provincial, national, and international law enforcement partners, as well as other government entities (e.g., Canada Post), to ensure a coordinated response to reduce the flow of illicit drugs within and outside of Canada. Intelligence sharing and operational engagement with Five Eyes and other foreign partners also continue to enable successful action against TSOC groups in Canada and internationally.

Seizures of Fentanyl at the Border

The CBSA's priority is to protect the safety and security of Canadians. The CBSA is committed to working with all law enforcement partners including the RCMP to combat drug smuggling at the border. Fentanyl is one of numerous narcotics that the CBSA encounters in day to day operations at ports of entry. Since 2017, there have been 30,121 grams of fentanyl seized at Canadian ports of entry.

Canada does not appear to be a transit route for fentanyl trafficked by Mexican cartels:

FY Fentanyl (Grams) (quantity seized)
2017-2018 14,605
2018-2019 5,166
2019-2020 2,951
2020-2021 7,399

However, it is highly likely that Mexican Drug Cartels operations in Canada function as a supply chain where operators are only aware of their specific function, and sheltered from other aspects of the operation. Independent third party contractors working for multiple Mexican DTOs are likely hired to transport drug shipments to Canadian Organized Crime Groups.

Customs agencies in the United States and Australia have also reported an increase in fentanyl seizures originating from Canada (mainly in powder form), indicating a likelihood of domestic production in Canada.

During 2019/2020, when the WHO declared a pandemic, all countries introduced various forms of travel bans into their countries. Canada’s travel restrictions may have contributed to the decline of fentanyl seizures in Canada. As countries are slowly easing their travel restrictions, this could be a indictor as to why the number has increased for 2020/2021.

The CBSA also posts some seizure statistics online at the following link.

International Considerations and Actions

In addition to its domestic activities, Public Safety Canada is actively engaged with international partners in a number of fora. Canada maintains a trilateral relationship with the U.S. and Mexico through the North American Drug Dialogue (NADD), which provides a forum to discuss and exchange information and best practices on the opioid epidemic and other drug threats. NADD also increases trilateral coordination on drug policy and develops actions to protect North America from illicit substances.

Additionally, Canada engages bilaterally through its involvement in the Canada-U.S. Action Plan on Opioids. Pursuant to the priorities identified in the Action Plan, working groups are undertaking data and sample sharing activities as part of the development of more robust and targeted cross-border enforcement regimes.

Canada also actively participates in the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs and the Inter-American Drug Control Commission. Public Safety will continue to collaborate with our international partners to develop sound drug policy, share information, and bolster efforts to reduce the flow of opioids and illicit drugs into Canada.

None