Canada appoints fentanyl czar as part of promises to Trump
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Mr Kevin Brosseau, a former senior police officer, was mostly recently Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's deputy national security and intelligence adviser.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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OTTAWA - Canada on Feb 11 said it had appointed a fentanyl czar, after promising US President Donald Trump that it would boost efforts to combat the flow of the drug across the border in exchange for a pause on tariff threats.
Canada has repeatedly asserted that less than 1 per cent of fentanyl entering the United States comes through its border.
Mr Trump has remained adamant, however, that Canada increase efforts against cross-border trafficking.
Last week, he paused levies of 25 per cent against Canada
Ottawa also maintains that fewer than 1 per cent of such migrants enter the US via its border.
Canada’s new fentanyl czar, former senior police officer Kevin Brosseau, “will work closely with US counterparts and law enforcement agencies to accelerate Canada’s ongoing work to detect, disrupt, and dismantle the fentanyl trade”, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a statement.
Mr Brosseau, who recently served as Mr Trudeau’s deputy national security and intelligence adviser, has spent more than 20 years in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, including as the top cop in Manitoba.
Canada has already announced a series of measures meant to strengthen its borders and collaborate with the US.
Ottawa has pledged C$1.3 billion (S$1.23 billion) towards new Black Hawk helicopters, drones, mobile surveillance towers, and nearly 10,000 front-line personnel working on protecting the border.
US Customs and Border Protection said it seized nearly 10,000kg of fentanyl in the 2024 fiscal year.
Of that amount, 19.5kg were seized at the Canadian border. AFP
