U.S. advocate, law enforcement near border happy about increased security focus on fentanyl
Law enforcement in Minot, N.D., about 85 kilometres south of the U.S.-Canada border, say they're happy that Canada is ramping up security measures to limit the flow of drugs between the two countries.
Officers in Minot interviewed last week said that it's hard to pinpoint exactly where the drugs are coming from, but that more security measures can only decrease the drug supply. Last year, four out of seven overdose deaths in the town of about 47,000 people were fentanyl-related.
"It would be naive of us to think that some of it doesn't come from Canada," Capt. Justin Sundheim of the Minot Police Department said. "We also know that some does come from Mexico as well. You don't know quite where it comes from, you just know it ends up here."
Canada's promise to increase security at the border helped earn a pause until at least March 4 for the 25 per cent tariffs U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to put on all Canadian exports to the U.S. However, Trump recently announced 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum set to take effect on March 12, which would stack on top of any other tariffs that come into effect.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's promised $1.3-billion border security plan includes 24/7 border surveillance, a Canada-U.S. joint strike force and the addition of helicopters, drones and a canine team. Canada is also investing $200 million to allow Public Safety Canada and the Communication Security Establishment to gather information on organized crime to share with the U.S.
Figures from U.S. Customs and Border Protection show 19.5 kilograms of fentanyl were seized at the U.S.'s northern border last year, compared to 9,570 kilograms at the southwest border.
Kevin Purdue, program director of the Minot Area Recovery Community Organization, said any efforts to tamp down the drug supply are a good thing.
"It can't hurt, every little bit helps," said Purdie, whose group works with people struggling with substance abuse disorders.
"I know wholeheartedly that addicts are very resourceful people when it comes to getting stuff, smuggling stuff."
Purdue said that in recent years, fentanyl has been found in the form of pills and candy in the community, and that it's becoming more common to hear of people using the opioid.
"It's an epidemic," Purdue said. "I know people that can find fentanyl easier than they could find a bag of weed."
Minot Police say there were 236 dosages of opiates, depressants and narcotics seized in the town in 2024.
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