You’ve probably heard the buzz about fentanyl crossing the Canada-U.S. border, but here’s the real story: Canada’s role in the crisis is tiny. Recent data reveals that only 0.2% of fentanyl seized by U.S. border authorities comes from the northern border. The overwhelming majority? It’s from Mexico—96.6%, to be exact.

During the 2024 fiscal year, border officials confiscated 21,889 pounds of fentanyl nationwide. A mere 43 pounds of that came from Canada. Fast forward to the first three months of 2025, and the numbers stayed consistent: 10 pounds seized at the Canadian border compared to 4,409 pounds at the Mexican border.

While fentanyl seizures in Canada have risen slightly in recent years—from 2 pounds in 2023 to 43 pounds in 2024—the amounts are still minuscule compared to the influx from Mexico. Even U.S. drug enforcement reports barely mention Canada, focusing instead on Mexico as the primary source.

Canada’s border agency has also chimed in, stating that the country is far from a significant source of fentanyl heading to the U.S. “Our assessment is that we’re not, in any way, a major supplier,” said one official.

Still, Canada isn’t sitting idle. In response to concerns, the government has rolled out new measures to crack down on drug trafficking, including funding for better detection tools and trained dog teams.

This data challenges the notion that Canada’s border is a hotspot for fentanyl smuggling. While the drug is undeniably dangerous, the numbers show that the real focus should be elsewhere. Mexico remains the overwhelming source of this deadly crisis.

So, next time you hear about fentanyl and Canada, remember: the issue is far more complex than it seems. The numbers tell a clear story—one that points south, not north.