Standing behind heaping piles of medicine stacked in clear plastic baggage and storage bins, Toronto’s police chief final week introduced the power’s largest-ever cocaine seizure, intercepted on the border in a truck getting into from the USA. A number of hours later, President Trump additionally addressed cross-border drug trafficking — however in his case to put blame on Canada, no less than partly, for a lethal fentanyl scourge.
“The fentanyl coming through Canada is massive,” Mr. Trump instructed reporters the day after his inauguration. “The fentanyl coming through Mexico is massive. And people are getting killed and families are being destroyed.”
It was a repeat of his declare that Canada and Mexico haven’t performed sufficient to strengthen their borders and block the circulation of narcotics — and migrants — to the USA. He has threatened to impose punitive tariffs of 25 p.c on exports from each international locations on Feb. 1.
Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary nominee, reiterated that stance at his affirmation listening to on Wednesday, calling for Canada to “respect America.”
“If we are your biggest trading partner, show us the respect,” Mr. Lutnick mentioned. “Shut your border and end fentanyl coming into this country.”
To stave off the threatened tariffs, the Canadian authorities has been sending drones, canine items and helicopters to help surveillance on the border. However latest bulletins by regulation enforcement officers about these efforts and assurances from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada appear to have performed little to appease the brand new U.S. administration.
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