The Bureau investigates Canadian intelligence on the causes of opioids pouring into North America. The warnings were there as far back as 1993.

By Sam Cooper | Published by The Bureau

Summary

In 1993 a confidential Canadian report from Hong Kong warned of the potential for organized crime and state actors from China to exploit international trade and immigration channels for illicit purposes, including drug trafficking. Report author, Canadian diplomat, Brian McAdam, was prescient in his concerns about the involvement of Hutchison Whampoa, a Hong Kong-based conglomerate, in Canadian real estate and port operations, given its alleged connections to Triad organizations and the Chinese government.

McAdam’s report and personal notes indicate that he believed there was a significant risk of these entities facilitating human smuggling and opioid trafficking, which could have long-term implications for public safety and health in North America. His warnings about the potential for a fentanyl epidemic seem to have been prophetic, as the United States and Canada have indeed faced severe challenges related to opioid addiction and overdose deaths in recent years.

The fact that McAdam’s “Passports of Convenience” paper was reportedly not acted upon at the time suggests that there may have been political or diplomatic considerations that took precedence over the security concerns he raised.

The allegations against Hutchison Whampoa and its connection to Ng Lap Seng, a Macau billionaire suspected of Triad membership, suggest a long-standing network of influence, corruption, and illicit activities that span multiple countries and continents.

The involvement of Chinese state-linked entities in the global shipping industry, particularly in strategic ports around the world, raises concerns about the potential for these locations to be exploited for illicit purposes, such as drug trafficking and money laundering. The fact that Hutchison Whampoa operates ports in Mexico that are reportedly used for the importation of fentanyl precursors from China is a direct link to the opioid crisis affecting North America.

The connections between Chinese “Red Princelings,” Triad organizations, and Mexican cartels, as outlined in McAdam’s notes and other reports, indicate a sophisticated network that leverages political influence, economic power, and criminal expertise to achieve its goals. The mention of offshore banking fronts associated with Beijing’s elite clans and their entwinement with China’s military in global shipping interests further complicates the situation, as it suggests a level of state involvement or at least tolerance of these activities.

The prosecution of Ng Lap Seng in 2017 for his role in a United Nations corruption scandal is a clear example of how these networks can extend into the highest levels of international organizations and politics. His previous involvement in a campaign finance scandal in the United States and his access to the White House highlight the potential for foreign influence and corruption to impact democratic processes.

The fact that these issues are now being investigated by the U.S. Congress and other national security agencies indicates a growing recognition of the seriousness of the threat posed by these networks. The early warnings provided by Brian McAdam and others about the potential for Chinese Communist Party involvement in fentanyl trafficking and other illicit activities appear to have been prescient, and their insights may now be crucial in understanding and combating these global challenges.

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