WASHINGTON — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration plans to open two new offices in Canada as officials raise concerns about fentanyl production and trafficking across the northern border.
DEA Administrator Terrance Cole announced the plan during a recent U.S. Senate hearing, citing what he called “significant seizures” of fentanyl in Canada in recent months.
“We need to make sure that we keep an eye on the northern border as well. We see more precursors coming into the Port of Vancouver, coming into Canada,” Cole said. “And then it comes across our northern border.”
The DEA currently operates offices at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver. Cole said the agency aims to add two more by 2027.
Federal officials say they are increasingly watching Canada as traffickers adapt to tighter enforcement along the southern border. FBI Director Kash Patel told lawmakers some groups have shifted operations north, moving drugs through Canada into Alaska and the continental U.S.
A new DEA National Drug Threat Assessment also points to emerging concerns in Canada, including so-called “super labs” capable of producing large amounts of fentanyl.
Still, U.S. data shows the vast majority of fentanyl entering the country continues to come from Mexico. In 2024, more than 9,300 kilograms were seized at the southern border, compared to less than 23 kilograms at the northern border.
That gap appears to be widening. According to CBC, in the first half of fiscal year 2026, U.S. agents seized roughly 5,800 pounds of fentanyl at the southern border, compared to six pounds along the Canadian border.
Canadian officials push back on the characterization.
“Canada is not a significant source of fentanyl,” a spokesperson for the Canada Border Services Agency told CBC News, noting efforts to strengthen border enforcement.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police also told CTV News that Mexican cartels do not have a significant or controlling presence in Canada’s synthetic drug production, but added they are continuing to work with U.S. and international partners to disrupt trafficking networks.
Despite the relatively small volume, U.S. officials warn Canada-based operations could expand if pressure on Mexican supply chains increases.
