RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says a federal move to list organized crime cartels as terrorist entities to fight fentanyl trafficking would give the Mounties more tools to pursue charges and enforce the law.

In an interview Thursday, Duheme also said he sees value in the government91裸聊视频檚 plan to appoint a national fentanyl czar, as it would allow a single point person to see an overall picture of the dangerous drug91裸聊视频檚 manufacture and distribution.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose stiff tariffs against Canada, citing the southbound flow of migrants and drugs, including fentanyl.

U.S. border patrol statistics show that less than one per cent of fentanyl seized is found at the northern border.

Trump has agreed to a month-long pause on the tariffs while the U.S. assesses whether Canada91裸聊视频檚 recent actions satisfy his demands.

The federal government unveiled a $1.3-billion plan in December to bolster security and surveillance on the Canada-U.S. border. It announced additional plans this week for a fentanyl czar, new capacity to gather intelligence on transnational organized crime and a move to list drug cartels as terrorist organizations.

The listing process begins with intelligence reports that indicate whether an organization has knowingly carried out, attempted to carry out, participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity.

If the public safety minister believes that threshold has been met, the minister may recommend to the federal cabinet that the organization be added to the list. The listing is then published if the cabinet agrees with the recommendation.

A listed group is not banned and being listed is not a crime 91裸聊视频� but the designation does effectively freeze a listed group91裸聊视频檚 assets and property, which are also subject to seizure or forfeiture.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an additional tool for law enforcement when we91裸聊视频檙e looking at laying charges,91裸聊视频� Duheme said.

The term 91裸聊视频渃artel91裸聊视频� might conjure notions of drug lords conspiring in Latin American countries.

Duheme noted a cartel can be defined as a group of independent market participants who collude and agree not to compete with each other.

91裸聊视频淵ou could use the term cartel for any organized crime group,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淏ecause they divvy up the territory, they want to make sure that the market price is the same.91裸聊视频�

Turf wars happen only when 91裸聊视频減eople are getting too hungry91裸聊视频� and want to expand their territory, he said.

91裸聊视频淚 think there91裸聊视频檚 a lot of outlaw motorcycle gangs that can be qualified as cartels as well,91裸聊视频� he added.

A recent Criminal Intelligence Service Canada report said organized crime groups involved in manufacturing fentanyl operate mostly in British Columbia and Ontario. Beyond those provinces, crime groups engage in distribution and trafficking, and increasingly rely on street gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs, the report said.

Public Safety Minister David McGuinty was asked Thursday whether the planned terrorist listings could include outlaw motorcycle gangs.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檒l have more to say about that listing process and who91裸聊视频檚 on that list in due course,91裸聊视频� he said.

Duheme indicated the Privy Council Office was still working to define the fentanyl czar91裸聊视频檚 role.

But he suggested the czar would gather information from the RCMP and other agencies to provide the prime minister and cabinet with an overall sense of 91裸聊视频渆verything that91裸聊视频檚 going on in Canada when it comes to fentanyl.91裸聊视频�

McGuinty said Thursday the terms of reference for the new position would be finalized soon.

91裸聊视频淭he fentanyl czar91裸聊视频檚 role will be to help us integrate what is a whole-of-society challenge,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淔entanyl is a foreign affairs issue. It91裸聊视频檚 a law enforcement issue. It91裸聊视频檚 an intelligence issue. It91裸聊视频檚 a public health issue. It91裸聊视频檚 a tracing issue in terms of the ingredients that end up being used in the production of fentanyl, the precursors.91裸聊视频�

The federal border security plan announced in December included an aerial intelligence task force for round-the-clock surveillance of Canada91裸聊视频檚 border, using helicopters, drones and surveillance towers.

Canada also proposed to the United States the creation of a North American 91裸聊视频渏oint strike force91裸聊视频� to target organized crime groups that work across borders.

Duheme said the RCMP plans to lease two Black Hawk helicopters next year to complement the pair that began patrolling the border last month.

He said the Canadian component of the joint strike force would entail five teams of RCMP officers and others across the country to focus solely on fentanyl, 91裸聊视频渇rom the dealers to the labs to the flow of precursors.91裸聊视频�

The strike force will also involve teams in the U.S. that collaborate with their Canadian counterparts, Duheme said.

Although the amount of fentanyl coming from Canada is relatively small, and the number of southbound migrants apprehended by the U.S. border patrol has declined significantly, McGuinty said the United States91裸聊视频� concerns must be taken seriously.

91裸聊视频淚 think we should listen carefully to everything coming from the White House and act accordingly,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淏ut what we91裸聊视频檙e really focused on right now is public safety.91裸聊视频�

McGuinty said he has reminded American officials that illicit drugs are also travelling north.

91裸聊视频淭his is a two-way street,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭he fentanyl crisis is particularly egregious because fentanyl is so lethal 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 lethal in Canada and it91裸聊视频檚 lethal in the United States.91裸聊视频�