Elements of the Mexican Army, the National Guard and the Jalisco Security Secretariat guard one of four armored vehicles that were seized from drug cartels in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco State, Mexico, in February 2025. The raid netted four arrests, and authorities seized material to make explosives, video surveillance cameras, tactical equipment and several firearms. REUTERS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Canada on February 11 named a former deputy commissioner with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as the country’s fentanyl czar, hoping to show the U.S. it is working to prevent production and distribution of the synthetic opioid. During his more than 20 years in the RCMP, Kevin Brosseau served as a deputy commissioner and the senior Mountie in the province of Manitoba. More recently, he was deputy national security and intelligence advisor to the prime minister.
“Fentanyl is a lethal drug that must be eradicated from our communities,” Prime Minster Justin Trudeau said in a statement February 11. “The appointment of Kevin Brosseau as Fentanyl Czar will accelerate Canada’s efforts to detect, disrupt and dismantle the fentanyl trade, in partnership with the United States.”
Brosseau said his goal is to eliminate the drug crossing the border. “Getting the number to zero is a goal and should be our goal,” he said. “If it’s 1 pound, 10 pounds, we all know the amount of deaths that possibly could represent. We should be focused on eliminating the scourge that is fentanyl in this country and in the United States.”
“This is a clear demonstration of how serious Canada is taking the fentanyl crisis in his country and how important our relationship is with our American counterparts,” said Brosseau, who spoke February 12 after touring a Canada Border Services Agency port of entry facility in Lansdowne, Ontario.
Brosseau said his job will be to work to integrate the different levels of law enforcement. “I’m hoping to be able to give an intensity to the work,” he said. “My mandate is clear, to be able to bring people together to integrate the work and produce results.”
Figures from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) show the agency seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the northern border last year. That compares to 21,098 pounds at the southwestern border.
Brosseau said he plans to meet soon with Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, and other U.S. officials. “I’ve spent a number of years working in law enforcement,” Brosseau said. “I know how important those relationships, those collaborations, are on the ground. We’re stronger together.”
Besides appointing Brosseau, the Canadian government has also announced it is spending $1.3 billion (U.S. $910 million) on increased border security, which includes new helicopters, technology and personnel.