Canada stepped up efforts to deal with illicit drug production in 2025 — here’s what an expert wants next

Canadian officials made pains to show they were cracking down on illicit drug production in the country in 2025.

Much of that was driven by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war — which was justified, in part, by Trump’s assertions that Canada wasn’t doing enough to stop the illicit opioid fentanyl from flowing south of the border.

A “fentanyl czar” was appointed to co-ordinate agencies’ response to drug enforcement.

Drug seizures were regularly trumpeted, and the Liberal government’s border security bill includes provisions about cracking down on drug precursor chemicals and more surveillance powers for police.

A criminologist says the appointment of the fentanyl czar, in particular, shows an acknowledgement of the transnational nature of drug production in Canada.

“There are a lot of connections in Canada that were pointed out by Mr. [Kevin] Brosseau, the fentanyl czar, between Southeast Asia, China and Canada,” said Neil Boyd, a professor emeritus at Simon Fraser University’s criminology school.

“Organized crime groups in all of these countries work together, and precursor chemicals come in regularly to Canada.”

Boyd said that Trump’s claims around fentanyl flowing south of the border in significant numbers aren’t rooted in fact — but have allowed for a focus on cartels and transnational organizations that are contributing to domestic drug production.

“I think one of the benefits of Trump's claims … is that it has allowed for more insight into what some of the real problems are,” Boyd said.

Brosseau said in a statement to CBC News that, going into 2026, officials would push forward with a mission of reducing drug supply, curbing demand and securing borders.

"We are starting to see demonstrable, measurable improvements through our strategic and [co– ordinated] efforts, with a suite of complementary measures coming together," he said.

Drug seizures

During a recent media availability announcing a massive fentanyl seizure, intelligence officials said they believe that Canada isn’t a major exporter of the drug.

Rather, they say that Canada has a “domestic issue” with the opioid, which has been blamed for a majority of deaths from toxic drugs in B.C.

Boyd says that whether Canada is an exporter of drugs largely depends on the drug in question, and that methamphetamine remains one that is exported in large quantities.

“The reason that precursor chemicals come from China into Canada is because there's a production network in Canada that caters not only to Canadians — but goes to the Pacific, goes to countries, you know, beyond Australia,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police (AFP) told CBC News that, between 2020 and 2024, the force noticed an increase in the seizure of illicit drugs originating from Canada.

“During this period, AFP seized about 2.4 tonnes of methamphetamine, 500 kg of cocaine, 28 kg of fentanyl (11 kg pure) and 25 kg of MDMA, along with other drugs,” the AFP spokesperson said.

While the spokesperson said that there were increases in the number of drug seizures from Canada every financial year until 2023-24, drug seizures decreased by 46 per cent in 2024-25.

Laws should be changed: criminologist

Boyd says there should be efforts to address the length of criminal trials to further deal with the issue of Canadian drug production next year.

“Trials are taking far too long,” Boyd said. “It's a consequence of the need for the police and prosecutors to get all their ducks in a row with respect to disclosing relevant information prior to trial.

“We need somehow — either through a technological mechanism that allows us to disclose more quickly, or perhaps Criminal Code amendments — [to] make disclosure a more explicit and easier process.”

The criminologist added that transnational organized crime groups should be targeted by addressing money laundering — specifically by using civil forfeiture and unexplained wealth orders.

In an interim report from Canada’s fentanyl czar released in June, officials noted the need for more tools and stronger penalties to address financial crimes.

The report also noted that the Liberals’ border bill contained a number of provisions that would help with the issue of fentanyl production and money laundering, in particular.

“The Act features new tools to help combat … the illicit fentanyl trade, transnational organized crime, money laundering and terrorist financing,” the report says.

That bill, however, faces a rocky road in Parliament and has been criticized by civil rights groups.

Still, Boyd says laws need to be changed if Canada wants to get serious about dealing with organized crime.