Mexico City, February 18, 2025. The pressure from the United States on Mexico to curb the trafficking of fentanyl is already affecting criminal organizations. One of the most impacted is the Sinaloa Cartel, identified as one of the main producers of this drug, which floods the markets of the U.S. and Canada.
Fentanyl, a problem that already concerns Canada
Since November 2024, the governments of Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau have committed to working together to combat fentanyl trafficking. The threat no longer only affects the United States, but has also reached Quebec and Montreal.
Journalists Félix Séguin and Marc Sandreschi traveled to Sinaloa to document the drug trafficking crisis in Mexico. In their report, published on February 14 in Le Journal de Montréal, they interviewed a member of the Sinaloa Cartel.
Confession from the depths of drug trafficking
From anonymity, a cartel operator identified as "Pablo" admitted that the fentanyl produced in Mexico reaches the streets of Canada. Although he didn't specify if he belongs to Los Chapitos or Los Mayos, he confirmed that the organization remains focused on the opioid business.
"Fentanyl is very deadly. Even I'm scared to talk about this," he confessed.
The fear within the cartel is not only due to the opioid's lethality, but also to the repression that Trump has pushed since he returned to the presidency.
Desertion within the Sinaloa Cartel?
According to "Pablo," within the organization there are members who prefer not to get involved in fentanyl trafficking. However, the drug continues to generate million-dollar profits, which keeps the interest of criminal leaders.
The chemical precursors used in its manufacture come from China and arrive in Mexico through the port of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands.
"The machinery can produce between 50,000 and 100,000 pills every two hours," he revealed.
These blue pills not only flood the U.S. market, but have also found a new destination in Canada.
Canada confirms the presence of Mexican cartels
Commander Francis Renaud, from the Organized Crime Division of the Montreal Police, assured that a large part of the drugs seized in the region originate in Mexico.
"Mexican cartels make sure that they buy from them and not from someone else. They need to maintain control," he declared.
Trump increases pressure on Mexico and Canada
Since the publication of the interview, Donald Trump has raised the tone against Mexico and Canada. He has demanded that both countries strengthen their efforts in the fight against fentanyl.
To ensure results, he has threatened to apply tariff measures against both nations.
Additionally, in the U.S. Congress, the process is advancing to designate Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTO). This would open the door to direct military operations against criminal groups, including the Sinaloa Cartel.
