U.S. border officials report 55 percent drop in drug seizures at Canada crossing

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials told a Capitol Hill hearing on Tuesday, June 30, that drug seizures at the border with Canada have dropped 55 percent compared to the prior year — a sharp decline that undercuts Republican claims about Mexican cartels exploiting the northern route.

Acting Deputy Chief Jason Schneider told the House committee on border security and enforcement that while seizures have increased in northern regions overall, the Canada-U.S. border itself has not seen the uptick. Officers are instead finding drugs smuggled across the southern border with Mexico and transported northward.

Schneider also reported a decline in apprehensions of undocumented immigrants at the northern border: down 22 percent this fiscal year and 67 percent compared to 2024.

Republican lawmakers at the hearing alleged that Central American cartels are establishing operations in Canada and using Vancouver as a fentanyl precursor hub. Rep. Sheri Biggs of South Carolina claimed cartels manufacture fentanyl from precursors brought into North America via Vancouver and smuggle the finished product across the northern border.

Canadian officials have acknowledged challenges with fentanyl but characterized it as largely a domestic problem. The RCMP has stated there is no pervasive cartel presence in Canada.

U.S. government data supports the border officials' testimony: fentanyl seizures at the Canada-U.S. border are minuscule compared with volumes seized at the southern border with Mexico. The Trump administration and its members have nonetheless made similar cartel allegations despite this data.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated in June that "the biggest concern we see is what's happening on our southern border being pushed up to our northern border." President Trump declared an emergency at the northern border last year to impose tariffs on Canada, citing fentanyl flows — a move that remained in place until the U.S. Supreme Court struck it down earlier this year.

Canada responded to Trump's stated border concerns with new legislation and funding for enhanced security. Trump replaced the tariffs with a 10 percent global duty using Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act, exempting goods compliant under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). That duty expires after 150 days unless Congress extends it.

Despite border patrol officials repeatedly presenting declining seizure data during Tuesday's hearing, Republicans continued pressing them on the Canada border and fentanyl. Chris Holtzer, executive director of operations for CBP's field operations office, said "we're not seeing a drastic change across the northern border," noting the largest fentanyl seizure his department has recorded was two pounds in Blaine, Washington.