Quebec has witnessed a significant increase in crystal meth seizures, with over 63 kilograms confiscated in 2024. Notable operations included a major bust in Sainte-Foy. Street gangs are identified as primary distributors, with crystal meth mainly imported from Mexico, leading to a decline in local production. Recent statistics highlight 34 seizures in Capitale-Nationale, contrasting sharply with only 11 in Montreal. Authorities emphasize the rising trend of importation over local manufacturing, posing serious community risks.
Significant Crystal Meth Seizures in Quebec
In the province of Quebec, law enforcement has made remarkable strides in combating the proliferation of crystal meth, with the Sûreté du Québec reporting the highest amount of this drug seized last year. The quantity confiscated in 2024 dramatically exceeded the seizures made in the Montreal area. Recent data reveals that police conducted extensive operations, leading to the seizure of over 63 kilograms of crystal meth, marking the largest annual haul for any region since 2022.
One notable operation took place last October, when authorities uncovered 15 kilograms of crystal meth in a warehouse located on Watt Avenue in Sainte-Foy. In total, the police executed 34 seizures in the Quebec region, compared to just 11 in Montreal, where they confiscated slightly less than a kilogram. This surge in crystal meth activity has raised concerns, as it has quickly gained popularity among users, inflicting severe consequences on the community.
Trends and Insights into Crystal Meth Distribution
While final data for the previous year is not yet published, the Quebec City Police Service (SPVQ) has noted a significant uptick in crystal meth seizures, increasing from 41 grams in 2022 to over a kilogram in the following year. Criminologist Maria Mourani emphasized that the presence of such a large quantity of crystal meth is not surprising, given that street gangs are the primary distributors of this substance. “Targeted police operations have focused on specific street gangs throughout the past year,” she stated.
According to Rosalie Dion, a strategic analyst in criminal intelligence at the Sûreté du Québec, crystal meth is primarily imported from Mexico, which is known for producing “high-quality, low-cost, and large-quantity methamphetamine.” She noted, “Since the influx of crystal meth into Quebec and Canada, we have observed a decrease in local production, with a clear shift toward imported supplies.” Various entry points, including the dark web, facilitate the importation of this drug into the province.
Pascal Roy, an organized crime investigator at the Sûreté du Québec, indicated that dismantling clandestine labs for crystal meth production is rare. The last significant operation occurred in April 2015 in Saint-Césaire, where authorities seized over 18 kilograms of the drug. This trend suggests a decline in local production, as “packaging sites” for creating drug tablets are becoming more frequent. These often unsanitary environments have been increasingly raided, revealing rising quantities of crystal meth, according to Roy. “By importing a finished product, you can reduce costs and risks, which is the hypothesis we are working with based on our data,” he concluded.
Crystal Meth Seizure Statistics in 2024
The following is a breakdown of crystal meth seizures by the Sûreté du Québec in 2024:
- Capitale-Nationale: 34 seizures, total quantity seized: 63.2 kg, total seized since 2022: 109.38 kg.
- Montérégie: 42 seizures, total quantity seized: 2.5 kg, total seized since 2022: 47.9 kg.
- Montreal: 11 seizures, total quantity seized: 0.95 kg, total seized since 2022: 181.3 kg.
- Abitibi-Témiscamingue: 50 seizures, total quantity seized: 0.75 kg, total seized since 2022: 2.32 kg.
- Laurentides: 10 seizures, total quantity seized: 0.22 kg, total seized since 2022: 464.7 kg.
- Chaudière-Appalaches: 21 seizures, total quantity seized: 0.21 kg, total seized since 2022: 0.86 kg.