Public Security Minister David McGinty said Ottawa is listing seven cross-border criminal organizations as terrorist groups as they seek to bolster its fight against drugs like fentanyl to avoid US tariffs. I stated.
“We have appointed Emperor Fentanyl to coordinate every level of government, agency and law enforcement to tackle the fentanyl crisis that is destroying our community. Today, we chases after money.” February 20th.
The terrorist designation will expand and disrupt the law enforcement of toolskits that can be used to pursue investigations and “track, track, find” illegal funding for drug cartels, the minister said. Ta.
“We know that disrupting money can have a big impact on the group’s activities,” he added.
Listing criminal groups as terrorist entities makes it illegal for anyone to participate or support their activities or deal with their property.
“Banks and brokerages will freeze the assets of these entities, which could be subject to seizures, suppression or forfeiture,” says McGuinty.
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The listed groups include Tren de Aragua, Mala Salvattorcha, Cartel de Sinaloa, Cartel de Girasco Nueva Generalization, La Nueva Familia Michoacana and Cartel de Golfo. The Gulf Cartels (Cartels Unidos).
Tren de Aragua and Mara Salvatrucha (also known as MS-13) are cross-border crime groups with roots in Venezuela and Salvador, respectively. The remaining designated cartels are based in Mexico.
Alongside McGuinty at a press conference, RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme said there was evidence that his police force is active in Canada with various international cartels and gangs.
“There’s also the powerful intelligence that Canadians actually moved to Mexico and South America to promote the transport of certain goods to Canada,” he said.
Duheme said many undesignated Canadian organized crime groups could be prosecuted under the terrorist law if they work with the cartel.
Canada has never previously listed typical organized crime groups as terrorist entities, but some of the currently listed entities are involved in fundraising criminal activities such as Lebanon Hezbollah. There are also things.
When asked by a reporter whether his department was redefineing terrorism, McGuinty defended the new measure. He said the list was based on the information that gave him the assurance and the work of the security agencies.
“In fact, the list is based on evidence, intelligence and law. All seven of these cross-border criminal organizations clearly meet this threshold,” he said.
Our actions
Canada’s new terrorist list follows similar recent measures taken by the US. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a notice on February 6th, designating eight international crime groups as foreign terrorist organizations, and made the formal announcement on February 20th.
“Today’s actions taken by the State Department demonstrate the Trump administration’s commitment to protect national security interests and dismantling these dangerous organizations,” Rubio said in a statement.
The newly designated entity as a terrorist organization by the United States is the same as Canada, adding the Cartel del Noreste (formerly Los Zetas).
Trump said the group’s proximity to the United States and its soil “substantial national security risks for the United States.”
The Canadian decision to follow the US move was announced on February 3 after saying it imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian goods and 10% on energy imports.
When the US announces it will suspend tariffs for 30 days, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has appointed “Emperor Fentanyl” and is strengthening Canada’s border security program by citing drug cartels as a terrorist organization. Ta.
The federal government says the amount of fentanyl crossing from Canada to the US is only a small part of what comes through Mexico, but it still pledges that more needs to be done to tackle the synthetic opioid crisis .
McGuinty stresses the issue, but says the fentanyl tragedy also has an impact on Canada.
“One thing we share with White House officials is that on a particular day, more Canadians died from fentanyl than Americans,” McGinty said. He spoke to Toronto reporters on the 19th of this month. They were surprised to learn this. ”
Canada’s border plan in response to the US tariff threat includes the creation of a joint task force with the US to tackle fentanyl. Health Canada is increasing its involvement in tracking the origins of precursors used in the manufacture of synthetic drugs. Many of them come from China, and criminal groups manufacture medicines in North American soil.
According to a 2024 Crime Intelligence Canada’s public report, the involvement of Canadian-based organized crime groups to fentanyl has increased by 42% since 2019. Exporting domestically manufactured drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine.
