Reported by Andrew Weichel

(Excerpt featured below. To read full report, go to: https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/fentanyl-precursors-diverted-from-mexico-to-bc-trumps-fbi-director-claims-in-joe-rogan-interview/)

The B.C. government is pushing back on claims made by FBI director Kash Patel while discussing the fentanyl crisis with comedian Joe Rogan.

Appearing on the latest episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, Patel told the host fentanyl precursor chemicals from China are being sent to Mexico and Canada to bypass U.S. drug enforcement efforts. 

“What they’re doing now to get cute is they’re shipping that stuff not straight here,” said Patel, an appointee of U.S. President Donald Trump. 

The FBI director also claimed the Trump administration’s efforts to stop fentanyl from coming over the Mexican border have resulted in more precursor chemicals being diverted to B.C. 

“They’re having the Mexican cartels now make this fentanyl down in Mexico still, but now instead of going right up the southern border and into America, you know what they’re doing?” Patel asked Rogan. 

“They’re flying it into Vancouver. They’re taking the precursors up to Canada, manufacturing it up there, and doing their global distribution routes from up there because we’ve been so effective down south.”