Fentanyl Production -- Smuggling Into the U.S.

"These operations have the potential to expand and fill any supply void created by disruptions to Mexico-sourced fentanyl production and trafficking."

 "In addition to the synthetic drug threat from Mexico, elevated synthetic drug production in Canada -- particularly from sophisticated fentanyl 'super laboratories' such as the type seized by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in October 2024 -- presents a growing concern for the United States."

U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency report

 

"I determined that the failure of Canada to arrest, seize, detain, or otherwise intercept drug trafficking organizations, other drug and human traffickers, criminals at large, and illicit drugs constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in substantial part outside the United States, to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States."

U.S. President Donald Trump

Kayleen Devlin & Yi Ma   Reuters

The U.S. DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) released its 2025 report focusing on threats to the United States posed by illegal drugs and drug traffickers and cartels. Over 84,000 Americans died of drug overdoses from October 2023 to October 2024. China's role in exporting the ingredients required in the manufacture of fentanyl in North America also made an appearance in the report, along with actions of major Mexican drug cartels.

 

In late October of 2024 the "largest and most sophisticated fentanyl and methamphetamine drug superlab in Canada", was broken up by the RCMP. According to the RCMP, the laboratory was capable of having produced 95 million doses of fentanyl. 54 kilograms of fentanyl, "massive amounts of precursor chemicals", and hundreds of kilograms in other drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy) also seized. 

Along with the drugs were discovered 89 guns, inclusive of 45 handguns, 212 'Ar-15-style rifles and submachine guns. 

 

Seized firearms and illegal drugs, including fentanyl, shown at a press conference at Mountie headquarters in Surrey, B.C., October 31, 2024. DARRYL DYCK / AP

 

While drugs do indeed flow north to south, the vast majority of drugs smuggled into the United States arrive from the southwestern border via Mexico. U.S. border officials seized 21,000 kilograms of fentanyl, 158,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and over 56,000 kilograms of cannabis coming through Mexico into the United States in 2024. American authorities seized 43 kilograms of fentanyl and72 kilograms of heroin crossing the border from Canada to the United States in 2025, for comparison. 

In 2020, Canada was identified by the DEA as a major source of high-quality cannabis. Indigenous reserves on both sides of the border were identified in the DEA report as significant routes for the smuggling of illicit drugs. 

"Canada and the United States share a common goal of saving lives and protecting communities from the devastating impacts of the illegal fentanyl trade."

"Canadian law enforcement agencies at all levels -- municipal, provincial, and federal -- are focused on dismantling organized crime networks and shutting down illegal drug production operations."

 "The DEA report reinforces what we already know -- the fight against fentanyl must be relentless, coordinated, and evidence-based."

Pierre-Alain Bujold, spokesperson, Privy Council Office, Canada