The Canada Border Services Agency says it has intercepted thousands of shipments of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and other illegal drugs in a month-long national enforcement effort aimed at stemming the cross-border flow of dangerous substances.
The agency revealed the results of Operation Blizzard on Tuesday, a February-to-March blitz that targeted illicit drugs moving through postal, air cargo and marine shipments. The effort, part of the federal government’s Border Plan, saw CBSA officers deploy across the country to inspect parcels and freight containers, many of them bound for or arriving from the United States.
More than 2,600 suspected narcotics and precursor seizures were recorded during the operation, with nearly 70 per cent of the intercepted contraband coming into Canada from the U.S. About 17 per cent was en route southbound.
Among the seizures were 116 fentanyl busts totaling 1.73 kilograms. Just over 1.4 kilograms of that was destined for the U.S., with most of it found in British Columbia, Quebec and Alberta. Officers also stopped shipments containing methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, MDMA, opium and cannabis products.
CBSA officials highlighted several high-volume seizures made during the campaign, including 148 kilograms of methamphetamine at Vancouver International Airport, 142 kilograms of cocaine from rail containers in Montreal, and 154 kilograms of ketamine discovered at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. In Vancouver, 400 litres of 1,4-butanediol — a substance commonly referred to as “liquid ecstasy” — were also seized.
In total, hundreds of kilograms of suspected narcotics were stopped from crossing Canadian borders during the surge operation, including over 100 kilograms of cocaine at the Coutts port of entry in Alberta and more than 400 kilograms intercepted at the Blue Water Bridge in Ontario.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree called Operation Blizzard a demonstration of “the tireless work of border services officers who defend our borders and our communities every day from dangerous drugs and organized crime groups.”
Kevin Brosseau, Canada’s “fentanyl czar,” emphasized the public safety risks posed by fentanyl and synthetic opioids, noting that such drugs continue to fuel Canada’s ongoing overdose crisis.
CBSA President Erin O’Gorman said officers remain committed to disrupting the global supply chains used by criminal organizations to traffic illicit substances, stressing that the agency plays a central role in Canada’s fight against organized crime.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid estimated to be up to 100 times more potent than morphine, continues to be a major concern for Canadian law enforcement. Even minute quantities can be lethal, making smuggling interdiction a high-stakes endeavour.
The operation comes amid increased federal investments in border security and immigration enforcement, with the government pledging $1.3 billion to bolster screening systems, strengthen cooperation with law enforcement, and support initiatives to tackle the opioid crisis.
The CBSA says it continues to work closely with Health Canada and international partners to identify emerging substances and develop enforcement strategies targeting traffickers and illicit producers.
Canadians are encouraged to report suspicious cross-border activities through the agency’s Border Watch Line at 1-888-502-9060 toll-free.
