As Canada grapples with a devastating opioid crisis, law enforcement agencies are shifting their focus from imported fentanyl to the chemicals used in its production. The Public Health Agency of Canada reports that more than 47,000 Canadians have died from toxic drug overdoses since 2016, with fentanyl involved in four out of five accidental overdose deaths this year. This alarming trend has led to a reassessment of strategies at the country’s borders.
The change in tactics began in 2019 when the Chinese government classified fentanyl as a controlled substance, tightening regulations on its production and export. As a result, criminal organizations have shifted from importing opioids to smuggling the precursor chemicals needed to manufacture fentanyl and other synthetic opioids into Canada. Dan Anson, Director General of the Intelligence and Investigations Directorate of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), highlighted the growing threat of these precursors. “Precursors could be the main threat entering Canada for substances contributing to the deaths of Canadians,” he said.
However, identifying these precursors at the border poses significant challenges. Many of these chemicals are unregulated, making them difficult to detect. Anson noted, “It’s difficult to find them because you need a level of front-end detection technology capability to identify the chemical. » To address these challenges, the Canadian government recently unveiled a comprehensive $1.3 billion plan to strengthen border security and combat the influx of drugs and migrants.
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The announcement comes shortly after the resignation of a key cabinet minister, which raised concerns about the government’s ability to handle cross-border issues. Immigration Minister Marc Miller acknowledged the loss of Chrystia Freeland, but expressed confidence in the remaining talent within government. A significant portion of the newly allocated funds will be devoted to regulating precursors and improving interception methods at the border. The government is committed to leveraging artificial intelligence and advanced imaging technologies to help law enforcement detect these dangerous chemicals.
In a significant procedural change, Ottawa aims to reduce the processing time for banning precursors from 36 months to just six. Additionally, a new “Chemical Precursor Risk Management Unit” will be created within Health Canada to support law enforcement agencies in their efforts to intercept these dangerous substances.
One of the difficulties in regulating precursors is that some of them are legal and serve multiple purposes. “It’s very rare to have a chemical that doesn’t have dual-use applications,” Anson explained, noting that many of these substances are commonly used in cleaning and manufacturing. However, Jennifer Pelley, director of Health Canada’s Controlled Substances and Overdoses Directorate, clarified that all chemicals essential to the production of fentanyl are illegal in Canada. She highlighted the government’s cautious approach to avoiding over-regulation of commodity chemicals that have legitimate uses. “The consequences of registration under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act would be serious. It would shut down a lot of legitimate trade,” she said.
Organized crime has also used a tactic known as “chemical masking,” which involves modifying precursors to evade detection. Anson described the technique as uncommon but familiar to authorities. Pelley illustrated the concept using an analogy with a Lego figure, explaining that even if the government controls the figure, criminals might try to disguise it with different accessories to avoid regulation. However, Health Canada is proactive and stays ahead of these tactics by anticipating how precursors may be modified.
The vast majority of precursors seized at the Canadian border, almost 100%, come from China. Anson noted that while other regions have chemical production facilities, Canada considers these hazardous substances to come primarily from Chinese sources. Criminals employ a variety of methods to smuggle these chemicals into the country, using everything from shipping containers to mail.
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As Canada prepares to improve its detection capabilities with artificial intelligence, Anson warned that organized crime could also exploit the technology to circumvent regulations. “When it comes to chemical composition and structuring, there are now many more resources available. It could be someone with a sophisticated understanding of chemical chains using AI rather than needing a highly skilled chemist,” he explained.
The ongoing fight against the opioid crisis in Canada is a dynamic and evolving challenge. Law enforcement agencies must continually adapt to the changing tactics of organized crime. Anson summarized the approach: “We learn from one crisis, then we apply it to 100 other crises, and from those 100 crises we create other targeting rules that will capture patterns that tell us that something something is wrong. » As the fight against the opioid epidemic continues, a focus on precursor drugs represents a critical front in safeguarding public health and safety.