North American Leaders Establish Trilateral Fentanyl Committee to Combat Illicit Drug Threat
North American leaders have established a senior-level Trilateral Fentanyl Committee to combat the rising threat of illicit fentanyl in the region. At the North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS) held on January 9-10, 2023, President Joe Biden, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau directed the formation of the committee, which convened for the first time on April 13, 2023. The committee is led by U.S. Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Mexican Secretary of Security Rosa Icela Rodríguez, and Canadian National Security and Intelligence Advisor Jody Thomas.
The Trilateral Fentanyl Committee has identified synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, as the primary drug threat in North America. The committee has pledged to disrupt the global transfer, facilitation, and supply of illicit fentanyl, precursor chemicals, and equipment used in their production before they reach the Western Hemisphere. The three North American countries will prioritize enhanced coordination in four areas: current and emerging synthetic drugs, drug demand and public health, drug trafficking modes and methods, and illicit finance.
In addition, the three governments have committed to enhancing drug surveillance capabilities and sharing best practices in the upcoming trilateral public health summit in June. The committee will develop shared recommendations for enhanced voluntary reporting of suspected chemical diversion by private chemical, shipping, and e-commerce industries. The three countries will also create a shared understanding of the North American market for legitimate uses of synthetic precursors.
The trilateral committee has pledged to coordinate international actions to mobilize other countries impacted by synthetic drugs, including methamphetamine, captagon, and tramadol. Furthermore, the three countries are committed to meeting again in the summer to continue building on existing cooperation frameworks, including the North American Drug Dialogue, the U.S.-Mexico Bicentennial Framework for Security, Public Health and Safe Communities, and the U.S.-Canada Opioid Action Plan. The trilateral committee's efforts are expected to mitigate the growing threat of synthetic drugs in North America.
