The overdose crisis has killed tens of thousands of Canadians over the past decade. A set of newly released federal intelligence reports offers a rare look at the business side of the drug behind so many of those deaths, from how it gets made to how the money is hidden afterward.
The Investigative Journalism Foundation and Postmedia obtained internal reports from the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) through access to information requests, as reported this week. FINTRAC is Canada's anti-money-laundering agency, and its reports are built on suspicious transactions flagged by banks and other businesses. Written in early 2025, they map how criminal groups buy the chemicals used to make fentanyl and launder the cash that comes back.
Key takeaways
FINTRAC found close ties between Canadian traffickers, overseas chemical suppliers, and professional money launderers.
The reports name the Toronto and Montreal areas as central trafficking hubs, with Toronto the largest.
India and Eastern Europe are now also seen as high-risk sources of the chemicals used to make fentanyl.
FINTRAC produced 268 intelligence disclosures on the fentanyl trade for police in 2025-2026, more than double the year before.
For families, the practical step is the same as ever. Know the signs of an overdose and keep naloxone nearby.
How do traffickers hide the money trail?
According to the reports, FINTRAC identified companies in China and Hong Kong suspected of exporting the chemicals and equipment used to make illegal fentanyl in Canada. To hide the money trail, criminals used front and shell companies, third-party warehouses, transactions kept just below reporting thresholds, and cryptocurrency, sometimes with partners or family members holding funds or company ownership for them.
None of these methods is new on its own. What stands out is how professional the system has become, with dedicated money-laundering groups working alongside drug traffickers rather than traffickers handling their own cash.
Where are the main hubs?
The reports describe the Greater Toronto and Montreal areas as central hubs for fentanyl trafficking, with a concentration in central and southern Ontario, and name Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver as hubs for the chemicals used to make it. FINTRAC also noted trafficking corridors reaching smaller and more remote communities, which helps explain why local warnings like the drug alerts in northwestern Ontario keep appearing far from big cities.
The supply routes are also shifting. One report said crackdowns in China may push Canadian groups toward less-regulated chemical markets, and a FINTRAC spokesperson said India and eastern Europe are now also considered high-risk places for these chemicals to be diverted.
What did the reports say about cross-border links?
The reports were written while the U.S. was pressing Canada over fentanyl crossing the northern border. A January 2025 FINTRAC report concluded that the fentanyl-linked transactions it saw between Canada and the U.S. were sporadic and isolated, which does not suggest a broad cross-border financial network, according to the journalists' summary of the reports.
Is Canada responding fast enough?
With Canada responding on several fronts at once, FINTRAC's own annual report says it produced 268 financial intelligence disclosures on the fentanyl trade for police in 2025-2026, supporting more than 40 investigations, more than double the year before. Canada's fentanyl czar, Kevin Brosseau, described a response that includes new legislation, border work with U.S. partners, disrupting criminal networks, and funding for prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Health Canada said known fentanyl precursor chemicals are tightly controlled and require a licence, and that there is no evidence licensed Canadian companies are a source for illegal production. Policy against the fentanyl trade matters, but it moves slowly, and for most families the risk shows up much closer to home. Our guide to who decides what in Canadian health care explains how federal and provincial roles fit together.
How can you protect your family from an overdose?
Illegally made fentanyl can show up in other street drugs and in counterfeit pills made to look like prescription medication, so people can be exposed without knowing it. With National Addictions Awareness Week running November 15 to 21, a few simple steps can help protect your family, including older relatives, whose risks our report on opioid trouble in later life explores.
Get a naloxone kit. Free kits that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose are available without a prescription at many pharmacies across Canada.
Learn the signs. Watch for slow or stopped breathing, blue or grey lips, very small pupils, gurgling sounds, and no response to voice or touch.
Call 911 and give naloxone. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act offers some legal protection to people who call for help during an overdose.
Talk with teens and young adults. Explain the risk of pills bought from friends or online, since counterfeit pills can contain fentanyl.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get a free naloxone kit?
Many pharmacies across Canada give out naloxone kits for free without a prescription, and some public health units and community organizations do too. Ask at the pharmacy counter, and ask the pharmacist to show you how to use it. Kits have an expiry date, so check yours and replace it when it runs out.
Will I get in trouble for calling 911 at an overdose?
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act offers some legal protection from certain drug charges to people who call 911 for help at an overdose, including the person who overdosed. It does not cover everything, such as outstanding warrants or trafficking. The most important thing is to call, because fast help saves lives.
Can fentanyl be in pills that look like real medication?
Counterfeit pills made to look like prescription painkillers or anti-anxiety medication can contain fentanyl, and you cannot tell by looking at them. Only take medication that comes from a pharmacy with your name on the label. If a teen or young adult in your life might buy pills, talk with them about this risk.
Your next step
If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use, a family doctor can be a confidential first step toward support and treatment. The Medimap Health Hub has more on health policy and safety, and you can book a family doctor near you.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. It does not replace a conversation with a doctor or other qualified health professional who knows your history. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
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