Canada appointed a senior intelligence official on Tuesday to the new role of fentanyl czar, as part of a commitment to US President Donald Trump to coordinate efforts against drug smuggling. Trump had threatened tariffs on Canadian imports unless action was taken to curb fentanyl trafficking.
Kevin Brosseau, a former senior police officer and Trudeau's former deputy national security and intelligence advisor, will assume the newly established position.
Public Safety Minister David McGuinty emphasized the need for the fentanyl czar to coordinate with various agencies, act swiftly to address challenges, and collaborate closely with American counterparts to combat the illicit drug trade crossing the border.
White House officials highlighted Canada and Mexico as routes for fentanyl shipments into the US, often evading detection due to their packaging. While only 0.2% of seized fentanyl in the US originates from the Canadian border, the majority enters from the southern border.