Canadian police have confiscated significant amounts of fentanyl and arrested numerous individuals in a five-month operation dubbed the National Fentanyl Sprint 2.0, according to the RCMP. Despite concerns raised by the U.S. government, officials emphasized that Canada is not a major fentanyl exporter.
The operation, which ran from May to October and involved over 100 police agencies nationwide, targeted fentanyl traffickers, production facilities, distribution networks, and financial supporters. The results included 8,136 arrests and charges, along with the seizure of 386 kilograms of fentanyl, 270 kilograms of precursor chemicals, 5,989 kilograms of cocaine, 1,708 kilograms of methamphetamine, and $13.46 million in cash.
The bust accounted for 78% of the total fentanyl confiscated in Canada this year. Among the arrests, 217 were related to fentanyl trafficking while on bail. Kevin Brosseau, the government’s fentanyl czar, expressed astonishment at the scale of the fentanyl crisis in the country.
Efforts to curb the flow of fentanyl have intensified following the re-election of U.S. President Donald Trump, who previously cited the drug’s entry into the U.S. as a reason for imposing tariffs on Canada. In response, Canada allocated a $1.3 billion border plan.
Officials reiterated that the majority of seized fentanyl was intended for domestic use, not for export to the U.S. Dan Anson from the Canada Border Services Agency noted that only a small amount of seized fentanyl was meant for transportation north or southbound.
The operation was conducted through the Canadian Integrated Response to Organized Crime (CIROC), a collaborative law enforcement initiative led by the RCMP and the Sûreté du Québec. Organized crime groups involved in the operation were not disclosed during the briefing.