A high-ranking RCMP officer is painting a disturbing picture of the cartel footprint in Canada.

For the original article this summary is based on, see the publisher’s website here: Canada’s cartel footprint: RCMP names 7 syndicates active in Canada| CTV News

In Brief by Probe International

In a rare interview, RCMP Chief Superintendent Mathieu Bertrand revealed that at least seven international drug cartels are active in Canada, using the country as a trans-shipment point for illicit goods.

These cartels, which include La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Cártel del Golfo, and Cártel de Sinaloa, were designated as terrorist entities by the Canadian government due to their drug trafficking activities posing risks to national security. A 2023 RCMP intelligence document indicated that these gangs are increasingly utilizing Canadian ports to export methamphetamine to countries like New Zealand and Australia, where the drug commands high prices.

The RCMP has dismantled multiple meth labs in Canada, including a significant bust in Falkland, B.C., linked to a Mexican cartel, where investigators seized 700 kg of meth and numerous firearms. Australian authorities have noted that shipments from Canada raise less suspicion than those from Mexico, making Canada an attractive route for cartels.

During a recent inspection at Australia’s largest mail sorting facility, officers discovered methamphetamine hidden in toys shipped from Canada, highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by organized crime in the region. According to data obtained by CTV’s W5 news program and the Investigative Journalism Foundation (IJF), Canada is the number one exporter of methamphetamine to New Zealand in the world. From 2020 to 2024, New Zealand seized more meth from Canada than from any other country—1,200 kilograms—with an estimated street value of about $350 million.

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