Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reported a noticeable increase in the amount of fentanyl seized along the American–Canadian border in recent months. However, the total remains only a small fraction of the fentanyl captured at the southern border with Mexico.
According to the latest CBP figures, officials seized approximately 26 kilograms of fentanyl along the northern border between October 2024 and May 2025 — surpassing the 19.5 kilograms captured during the entire previous fiscal year.
The jump came primarily in April and May, when 6 kilograms and 14 kilograms were intercepted, respectively. Despite this increase, it’s dwarfed by the 3,700 kilograms seized so far this year along the U.S.–Mexico border.
The fentanyl seized came in the form of powder and pills. There were seven seizure events reported in April and five in May near the northern boundary.
Canada’s newly appointed fentanyl czar, Kevin Brosseau, expressed concern over the uptick. “Even one gram near the border is too much,” he said. Brosseau noted that increased enforcement at the southern border may have caused some criminal elements to attempt alternate routes through Canada.
He emphasized Canada’s commitment to border cooperation, citing growing intelligence sharing with the U.S. and recent large drug busts within Canada, including a 43.5-kilogram fentanyl seizure in Ontario.
While U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, have cited the rising northern seizures as justification for trade tariffs, data from the Manhattan Institute shows that Canada is not a major fentanyl supplier. Between 2013 and 2024, 99% of fentanyl pills and 97% of powder seized at U.S. land borders came from Mexico.
Experts argue the spike in northern seizures is numerically small. Carnegie Mellon professor Jonathan Caulkins said the surge represents a high percentage change because the initial baseline was so low. “The real problem remains Mexico,” he added.