Former Security Adviser to Trudeau Claims Drug Cartel Activity is ‘Widespread’ in Canada
According to the former top security adviser to the prime minister, drug cartel activities in Canada are on the rise and need to be tackled before they spiral further out of control.
“A decade or two ago, we wouldn’t have associated the term ‘cartel’ with Canadian activities, but its presence is undeniable now,” Jody Thomas shared in an interview with Global News’ Mercedes Stephenson, which aired on February 23.
“This is becoming an emerging issue, and we have a chance to handle it effectively before it evolves into a national emergency,” she stated in response to Stephenson’s inquiry about Ottawa’s recent designation of five Mexican drug cartels and two street gangs as terrorist entities.
The federal government introduced this designation the previous week, including groups like the Sinaloa Cartel and the street gang known as Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13.
Based on her experience, Thomas indicated that she has observed a rise in organized crime and gang-related violence fueled by drug-related finances.
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“We are experiencing impacts unlike those seen before. The issues are progressing northward. The concerns regarding firearms are rising, and the fentanyl crisis is present here,” she emphasized.
Following the recent terrorist designations by Ottawa, the U.S. also took similar actions by listing the same groups alongside an additional Mexican cartel.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau revealed the decision to classify the cartels as terrorist entities on February 3, coinciding with U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement regarding a 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico over matters related to border security and drug trafficking.
Trump subsequently paused the tariffs for 30 days to evaluate the responses of the two countries. On the same day, Trudeau announced the appointment of a “fentanyl czar” to oversee Canada’s efforts against fentanyl, and former deputy NSIA and deputy RCMP commissioner Kevin Brosseau was appointed to this position.
‘Extremely Beneficial’
Thomas asserted that categorizing organized crime groups as terrorist entities will be “extremely beneficial” for the RCMP in their efforts to combat illegal activities. She noted that it would bolster collaboration with the United States and Mexico, as well as provide access to financial resources similar to those utilized by Canada’s financial intelligence agency, FINTRAC.
FINTRAC processes reports from financial organizations regarding various indicators, such as substantial cash transactions or activities that may suggest money laundering.
“FINTRAC was established to monitor terrorist financing, working with banks, and the RCMP will leverage this information and the capabilities of FINTRAC to support their investigations,” Thomas remarked, emphasizing that this initiative will be “critically important” for the RCMP, offering them “significant advantages.”
The terrorist listing prohibits individuals from engaging in numerous activities on behalf of the cartels, including recruitment and financial support. Any groups based in Canada that collaborate with cartels could face terrorism-related charges.
“This designation equips law enforcement with enhanced powers to trace, track, and disrupt financing activities,” Public Safety Minister David McGuinty mentioned last week during the announcement of the new listings.
“We recognize that by interrupting the financial flow, we will have a significant impact on the operations of these groups.”
In addition to drug trafficking, Canadian criminal organizations connected to the cartels are increasingly involved in money laundering and human smuggling, as noted in the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada’s public report for 2024.
