“Socalj” for Borderland Beat
On July 25, 2023, Mexico’s Secretary of Security Rosa Icela Rodriguez hosted U.S. Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and Canada’s National Security and Intelligence Advisor Jody Thomas in the second meeting of the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee to propel and expand actions on our shared commitment to combating the trafficking of synthetic drugs.
US President Joe Biden, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau established this Trilateral Committee, comprising high-level representatives from the three countries, during the North American Leaders’ Summit on January 9-10, 2023, to guide priority actions to address the illicit fentanyl threat facing North America.
The three co-chairs reaffirmed commitments to jointly confront the deadly scourge of synthetic drugs and discussed the steps we are taking to fulfill them.
- Intensifying and expanding prosecution of drug traffickers and dismantling criminal networks
- Targeting the supply of precursor chemicals used to make illicit fentanyl and inviting action by private chemical and shipping companies to prevent diversion
- Preventing the trafficking of drugs across our borders
- Promoting public health services to reduce harm and demand, educate individuals on the risks of substance use, and provide treatment to those seeking it
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Creating an expert working group to identify challenges related to respective legislative and regulatory frameworks associated with precursor chemicals, and related equipment. Also establishing an agile mechanism to promptly share [information on] emerging illegal drugs and drug trafficking trends
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Dismantled Labs in Mexico
Likewise, she accused criminal organizations of “Using Mexico” as a transit territory to traffic this type of illegal substances, which are produced with chemical products that are brought from Asia.
Arms Trafficking & Migration
During a prior meeting including Mexican President AMLO and the US, the two countries also recognize that discovering, disrupting, and dismantling firearms trafficking networks is critical to shared efforts to combat illicit fentanyl, and stated that they will remain committed to addressing firearms trafficking that contributes to violence and destruction on both sides of the shared border.
The leaders also discussed the challenges and progress in cooperation regarding regional migration and committed to continue to forge a region-wide response, guided by the principles in the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. To that end, the United States and Mexico committed to further expanding the availability of legal pathways throughout the region, including to Mexico and the United States. Leaders also discussed expanding joint development work in Central America and maintaining strong consequences for irregular entry at our shared border.
Finally, the United States and Mexico committed to furthering ongoing work to modernize and advance infrastructure projects that support border communities and benefit both nations and strengthen bilateral relationships and security.
Canadian Fentanyl Network Sentenced in US Federal Court
Three foreign nationals were sentenced in the District of North Dakota for their roles in an international fentanyl distribution conspiracy.
Daniel Vivas Ceron of Colombia was sentenced today to 27 years in prison. According to court documents, Ceron, while in prison in Quebec, Canada, was the leader and organizer of an international criminal enterprise that distributed large amounts of fentanyl.
On July 24, Berry was sentenced to 24 years in prison. Berry coordinated the acquisition of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs from China, the receipt of the drugs in Canada, and the further distribution of fentanyl products to the United States.
On July 17, co-conspirator Xuan Cahn Nguyen, aka “Jackie Chan,” 43, of Point-Aux-Tremble, Quebec, Canada, was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Nguyen assisted Berry and Ceron in acquiring fentanyl, distributing the drugs to the United States, and collecting the narcotics proceeds.