Fentanyl Precursor Chemicals From China Seized at Canadian Border

Canadian border officials have confiscated 4,300 litres of precursor chemicals used in the production of fentanyl and other illegal drugs from containers that were shipped from China, en route to Calgary.

The seizure took place in May at the Tsawwassen Container Examination Facility located in Delta, B.C., and was reported by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in an Oct. 30 press release.

Border officers inspected two marine containers from China on May 13 and 15 and found 60 clear jugs and 20 blue drums containing precursor chemicals, the agency said.

The containers contained 3,600 litres of 1,4-Butanediol, a precursor for manufacturing gamma hydroxybutyrate, commonly referred to as GHB, G, or liquid ecstasy. It is sometimes known as a “date-rape drug” because its sedative effects incapacitate victims.

Officers also found 500 litres of fentanyl precursor propionyl chloride and 200 litres of gamma butyrolactone or GBL, a chemical used in cleaning solutions and nail polish but can also be used as a date rape drug. GBL is converted to GHB in the body.

The investigation is ongoing, the border agency said, noting that its officers are committed to “disrupting organized crime by stopping the flow of precursor chemicals” into Canada.

CBSA Pacific Region Regional Director General Nina Patel said the types of chemicals seized by officers in May are “contributing to the toxic drug and overdose crisis” in the country.

There have been 53,821 “apparent opioid toxicity deaths” reported in Canada between January 2016 and March 2025, according to government data.

“This seizure demonstrates the important role our border services officers and intelligence personnel play to keep our communities safe,” Patel added in the press release. “We will continue to work closely with the RCMP to target those who attempt to smuggle fentanyl and other dangerous substances into Canada.”

China a ‘Major Source’

China serves as a major supplier of precursor chemicals for the domestic production of illegal drugs, such as fentanyl, according to multiple reports from Canadian officials.

“We know that many of these substances, and increasingly, the chemicals used to manufacture them, come from China and surrounding areas and that demand for them remains high,” the CBSA said in a 2021 report.

A 2023 report from the Deputy Minister China Committee also referred to the Asian country as a “significant source” of precursor chemicals used for the production of fentanyl in Canada.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has described China as a primary source country for the fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances being trafficked “directly into the United States.” The government has imposed sanctions on several Chinese chemical companies regarding the issue and brought federal charges against a chemical company based in Wuhan, China last year.

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit this week, and said afterward that Xi had agreed to crackdown on the flow of fentanyl from his country to the United States, which has also been dealing with an overdose crisis.

Trump announced his intention to reduce the blanket tariff he had imposed on China due to shipments of fentanyl precursors to the United States, following assurances from Xi to take action against such exports.

“As you know, I put a 20 percent tariff on China because of the fentanyl coming in, which is a big tariff,” Trump told reporters on Oct.30. “And based on the statements today, I reduced it by 10 percent, so it’s 10 percent instead of 20 percent effective immediately.”

Carney said earlier this week that he planned to discuss “a broad range of issues, both in terms of the commercial relationship as well as the evolution of the global system” with Xi during their Oct. 31 meeting. He did not say if he planned to broach the fentanyl issue.

Carney spoke briefly with reporters following his meeting with the Chinese leader saying he was “pleased with the outcome.”

CBSA statistics show border officers have seized the equivalent of more than 1.3 million doses of unidentified drugs and chemicals in the first quarter of fiscal 2025-2026.

Officers have also confiscated 566 grams of fentanyl and 500 doses of other opioids during that period as well as 663,041 grams of cocaine, 222,037 grams of hash, and 36,559 grams of heroin.

The agency noted that while it confiscated a lower volume of fentanyl than some other drugs, it is more potent.

“A few grains can be enough to kill you,” the agency said. “It is a dangerous drug that is 20 to 40 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. This makes the risk of accidental overdose very high.”

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.