Ottawa designates cartels and street gangs as terrorist groups, fulfilling promise to Trump

February 20, 2025 Canuck

The federal government designated seven criminal organizations — including cartels and street gangs involved in trafficking fentanyl — as terrorists on Thursday, delivering on a promise made to U.S. President Donald Trump in hopes of staving off economically devastating tariffs.

Included on the list are the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) and Sinaloa cartels, considered two of Mexico’s largest and most powerful organized crime groups.

“These are ruthless, transnational criminal organizations,” said Public Safety Minister David McGuinty during a news conference on Parliament Hill.

“These listed entities are organized crime groups that spread fear in local populations by using methods of extreme violence and are known for drug trafficking, human trafficking and trafficking in illegal guns.”

Historically, Canada has used the Criminal Code designation for religiously motivated groups, like ISIS or al-Qaeda, or ideologically motivated players, like neo-Nazi terror groups Atomwaffen Division and The Base, and not for crime rings.

In recent years, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has said the CJNG and Sinaloa cartels, using chemicals largely sourced from China, are behind “the vast majority” of the fentanyl that is being trafficked in communities across the United States.

Other criminal organizations on the list include:

The Gulf Cartel
The Michoacán Family.
Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, which started in California and has roots in El Salvador.
United Cartel.
Tren de Aragua, known as TdA, a gang started in a Venezuelan prison.

RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme, who attended Thursday’s announcement, said law enforcement have intelligence suggesting cartels are operating in the country.

“There’s also strong intelligence that Canadians have actually moved to Mexico and South America to facilitate the transport of certain commodities into Canada,” he said.

WATCH | Canada lists 7 criminal organizations as terrorist entities

Canada lists 7 criminal organizations as terrorist entities

14 hours ago

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Public Safety Minister David McGuinty says listing a criminal organization as a terrorist entity gives additional power to law enforcement to track, trace and disrupt their financing. ‘We know that by interrupting the money we are going to have a profound influence on the activities of the groups,’ McGuinty said.

Listing the groups as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code means certain activities are now illegal, including those related to financing, travel and recruitment. The Criminal Code already includes provisions for dealing with criminal organizations.

McGuinty said the listing gives law enforcement “additional powers to track, trace, find the financing, disrupt it, interrupt it.

“We’re going after the money,” he said.

Trudeau promised designation on phone with Trump

While the recorded amount of fentanyl seized at the Canada-U.S. border is minor compared to the southern U.S. border, that hasn’t stopped Trump from raising the issue as justification for a trade war with his northern neighbour.

Earlier this month, Canada was able to delay 25 per cent tariffs on all goods after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made last-minute additions to his government’s border security plan, including the promise to list cartels.

The Canadian list mirrors one from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, published earlier Thursday, formally designating eight Latin American organized crime groups that also operate in the U.S. to be “foreign terrorist organizations” — a move the Trump administration says will allow it to better combat the drug trade. The U.S. list also includes the Cártel del Noreste.

McGuinty said Canada made its decision independently of the U.S.

“Listings are, in fact, based on evidence, intelligence and the law. All seven of these transnational criminal organizations clearly meet this threshold,” he said.

But the minister added the two countries need to work together.

“We can’t wrestle the fentanyl crisis to the ground alone. Neither can the Americans,” he told reporters.

The Canadian government also promised Trump what’s being called a “fentanyl czar” to act as a point person on the file and co-ordinate with various departments and different levels of government dealing with the crisis.

Former senior RCMP officer Kevin Brosseau was appointed to the role last week.

Canada had previously announced $1.3 billion to reinforce the border with new choppers, technology and personnel and has promised to step up co-ordination with American officials to crack down on illegal drugs and migrants.

On top of that initial pile, the government earmarked another $200 million to help Canada’s cyber intelligence agency collect more information on organized crime.

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