Mexico, Canada, U.S. Agreement on Illicit Firearms & Drug Trafficking

Mexico’s Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection hosted her Canadian and U.S. counterparts for the fourth meeting of the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee.  Participants agreed on greater collaboration on testing protocols and recovery initiatives, as well as enhanced reporting and participation in the U.S. ATF's e-Trace weapons tracing program.

Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Kristie Canegallo and United States’ White House Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and Canada’s Deputy Clerk and National Security and Intelligence Advisor Nathalie G. Drouin reviewed progress on prior commitments and discussed further joint actions to counter the flows of illicit synthetic drugs and illegal firearms in North America with Mexico's Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection Rosa Icela Rodriguez. 

"To advance public health, we are committed to developing and implementing a common drug and substances analysis protocol, which will allow toxicologists from the three countries to improve our understanding of regional drug trends. In addition, we plan to convene a forum to discuss strategies and their implementation for assisting the long-term recovery of individuals with substance use disorders.

Firearms Reporting Planned

Our governments have expanded the scope of the Trilateral Fentanyl Committee to address firearms trafficking associated with illicit drug production and distribution under the auspices of the North American Drug Dialogue.

"As an important first step, we commit to developing a trilateral report that documents cross-border firearms seizures in all three countries. The report will broaden our strategic understanding of the corridors and methodologies used for trafficking drugs and firearms and the criminal organizations involved to better inform our actions.

"We also commit to increase our use of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) eTrace database to allow for more and faster joint investigations into the illicit trafficking of firearms across our borders.

In addition, to increase and expedite information sharing on criminals and illicit activities associated with trafficking of fentanyl and firearms, the United States invited Mexico to embed personnel at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection National Targeting Center, joining Canadian personnel who are already embedded there.