The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says a 36-year-old Mississauga man has been charged by RCMP after border officers allegedly intercepted several packages of synthetic opioids from China.
The charges follow a CBSA announcement of a partnership between border patrol and RCMP to stop fentanyl and other synthetic narcotics from crossing the border.
Operation Blizzard is a targeted, cross-country initiative aimed at intercepting illegal contraband arriving in and leaving Canada, with a focus on fentanyl and other synthetic narcotics, CBSA said on Feb. 27.
Border services officers will be increasing examinations of inbound and outbound shipments as part of the operation, the agency said.
Officers will also be taking action on referrals from CBSA’s National Targeting Centre based on risk assessments, according to CBSA.
Canada’s fentanyl czar, Kevin Brosseau, said Operation Blizzard was an important step to stop trafficking of fentanyl.
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“In addition to the deployment of new tools and technology at the border, we also rely heavily on our frontline personnel to secure our border. Exercises like Operation Blizzard deter criminals and help ensure that our border response to illegal drug trafficking is robust and effective,” he said.
Mississauga Arrest
In Mississauga, RCMP arrested Matthew Phan, 36, and charged him with several drug offences following an investigation launched in January. He has not been granted bail and remains in custody, CBSA said.
Phan’s arrest comes after CBSA said it intercepted several packages at international mail and cargo processing facilities in Mississauga and Vancouver. CBSA alleges that inside the seized shipments were opioids arriving from China.
Border officers also intercepted additional shipments intended for international export, it said.
The RCMP were able to obtain a search and arrest warrant based on information provided by CBSA’s Greater Toronto Region’s Intelligence Sector, according to the CBSA.
RCMP’s transnational serious and organized crime unit says it found more than five kilograms of narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and more than $120,000 cash and other proceeds of crime from Phan’s home on Jan. 3. Some of the drugs seized were nitazenes, CBSA said.
“Nitazenes are a lethal substance that pose a significant risk to the safety of Canadians, and the CBSA is committed to securing Canada’s border from drug threats like this one,” said Lisa Janes, regional director general of the CBSA’s Greater Toronto Area Region.
Janes said that the CBSA has made over 3,000 narcotic seizures in the GTA in 2024, seizing more than 10,000 kilograms of illegal drugs.
Public Safety Minister David McGuinty said it was Canada’s Border Plan in action.
Ottawa announced its border plan in response to Trump’s tariff threats. Trump said he would impose 25 percent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican exports to the United States unless the countries tightened borders and stopped the flow of illegal drugs and immigrants to the United States.
Canada committed $1.3 billion to its border plan, which includes appointing a fentanyl czar, listing gangs and cartels as terrorist organizations, and tighter border security. Ottawa has said that the plan includes acquiring Black Hawk helicopters and drones, development of mobile surveillance towers, and sending additional personnel and canine teams to patrol the border.
CBSA Drug Seizures
CBSA says it has made several drug seizures over the past few months, including the interception of 186 kilograms of methamphetamine and 42 kilograms of cocaine from two commercial trucks at the Coutts Alberta port of entry on Feb. 25.
CBSA officers say they seized about $500,000 worth of methamphetamine found hidden inside statues heading to New Zealand.
Air cargo officers at Vancouver International Airport are said to have seized 35 kilograms of ketamine.
Ketamine is an anesthetic and has sometimes been used as a date-rape drug, according to Health Canada.
The substance was hidden inside two tables, CBSA said in a Feb. 10 post on the X platform. It said the illegal drugs were worth an estimated $2.4 million.
On Feb. 4, CBSA posted that it has seized over 30 kilograms of suspected ketamine from a traveller. The drugs were estimated to be worth $2.1 million. CBSA said the traveller was arrested and the drugs turned over to the RCMP.
More than 56 grams of fentanyl has been seized in February, CBSA said.
