Canada has officially designated seven Latin American criminal organizations as terrorist entities, mirroring recent U.S. counter-narcotics efforts. Public Safety Minister David McGuinty announced the unprecedented move Thursday, targeting Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel, and five other groups responsible for fentanyl trafficking across North America.
This action freezes cartels’ financial networks and empowers law enforcement to dismantle cross-border operations,McGuinty declared at a press conference.
We’re cutting the pipeline pushing deadly opioids into Canadian communities and U.S. markets.
The designation follows U.S. pressure to address fentanyl flows amid stalled tariff threats from former President Trump. Key measures include:
- Immediate asset freezes for listed groups
- Criminal penalties for collaborators
- Enhanced cross-border intelligence sharing
RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme revealed Canadian operatives now work directly with cartels in Mexico and Venezuela, facilitating drug shipments through commercial and maritime channels. Our intelligence confirms Canadians are embedded in these organizations, Duheme warned.
Targeted groups comprise:
- Mexico’s Sinaloa, Jalisco, and Gulf Cartels
- Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua
- Transnational MS-13 gang
Newly appointed fentanyl czar Kevin Brosseau will oversee a CA$1.3 billion border security package featuring drone surveillance, narcotics-sniffing dogs, and advanced port inspection systems. Despite U.S. data showing minimal fentanyl seizures at northern checkpoints, analysts argue the terrorist label enables broader financial warfare against cartel logistics networks.
