Concerns About Canada’s Border Security
For quite a while, it’s been known among Canadian law enforcement that the Chinese Triad has been involved in trafficking people, drugs, and weapons across the U.S. border.
Despite numerous warnings from security experts, the Canadian government has been slow to address these alarming issues.
One official pointedly questioned, “He stopped all the border crossings. So where did fentanyl come from? Where is human trafficking still coming from?”
In an effort to draw attention to border security, former President Donald Trump previously employed tariffs aimed at LAX border enforcement.
Now, FBI Director Kash Patel, appointed by Trump, has reiterated this urgency, asserting that America’s primary border security threats are actually from Canada, not Mexico.
“Step Up”
During a recent interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Patel stressed the need for Canada to “step up” its efforts regarding border control.
He alleged that of the 300 known or suspected terrorists who entered the United States illegally in 2024, around 85% came from Canada.
Patel emphasized that while Trump effectively locked down the Mexican border, Canada is likely a significant route for fentanyl smuggling into the U.S.
He rhetorically asked, “In the first few months we had our seats under Donald Trump’s administration, he sealed the border. He stopped the border crossing.” Then he gave his own answer: “North Border.”
A Booming Business
Patel highlighted Canada’s dual role in the global drug trade: serving both as a destination for smuggled fentanyl components and as a hub for illegal labs that manufacture fentanyl.
He stated, “Our enemy is affiliated with organizations like the Chinese Communist Party, as well as Russia and Iran, involved in various criminal enterprises heading to Vancouver.”
His assertions find some backing in the reporting of Canadian investigative journalist Sam Cooper, who has documented the untracked arrival of fentanyl precursors from China at the Port of Vancouver, which are then processed in labs in British Columbia.
Under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Canadian government was notably disinterested in addressing these concerns until late last year, when tariff pressures from Trump helped prompt a $900 million border security plan.
Cozy with China
Mark Carney, Trudeau’s successor, has discussed the importance of bolstering border security but hasn’t committed additional funding. A budget from his government is anticipated later this autumn.
Carney’s connections to China may complicate efforts to clamp down on Canadian port infiltration.
As previously mentioned, Carney is advocating for the U.S. dollar to replace the Chinese yuan as the global currency. During his time in Beijing as a special economic adviser to Trudeau, he also secured a $276 million loan from the Central Bank of China in October 2024 for Brookfield Asset Management, where he served as chairman.
