In a landscape marred by escalating fentanyl overdoses, foreign interference scandals, and transnational crime networks, Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) faces mounting accusations of selective enforcement and institutional corruption. Investigative journalist Sam Cooper, renowned for his exposés on organized crime and foreign influence, has been at the forefront of these revelations. Through his bestselling book Wilful Blindness and ongoing reporting via The Bureau, Cooper has highlighted how the RCMP’s alleged delays, refusals to cooperate with U.S. partners like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and prioritization of less politically charged cases have compromised national security and public safety. As fentanyl-related deaths continue to climb—surpassing 40,000 in Canada since 2016—these claims paint a picture of an agency struggling, or perhaps unwilling, to confront entrenched threats.
Selective Enforcement: Prioritizing the Mundane Over the Menacing
Critics, including whistleblowers and U.S. law enforcement veterans, argue that the RCMP often focuses on minor infractions while soft-pedalling investigations into high-stakes, politically sensitive matters. This pattern, dubbed “selective enforcement,” has been linked to resource constraints, bureaucratic inertia, and potential external pressures. For instance, in the wake of the 2021 Kamloops residential school ground-penetrating radar findings—which sparked a wave of over 80 church arsons and vandalisms across Canada—the RCMP has secured a few convictions despite many incidents being confirmed as deliberate acts. X discussions amplify frustrations, with users pointing to minimal charges as evidence of reluctance to probe motives tied to historical grievances or anti-institutional sentiment.
Similarly, probes into alleged Chinese “police stations” in cities like Montreal and Vancouver—flagged by human rights groups as tools for transnational repression—have largely concluded without charges. The RCMP closed a Montreal investigation in September 2025, citing insufficient evidence of criminality, despite U.S. counterparts pursuing aggressive actions against similar operations. This selective approach extends to foreign interference, where the Hogue Commission’s January 2025 report acknowledged RCMP detection efforts but criticized enforcement lags, including unresolved allegations of 11 MPs acting as foreign agents.
Cooper’s reporting underscores how such selectivity erodes trust. In a February 2025 podcast appearance, he described the RCMP’s handling of organized crime as a “web of foreign interference” intertwined with domestic inaction, allowing networks to flourish unchecked.
DEA Claims of Corruption: Stonewalling U.S. Partners
The most damning allegations come from U.S. sources, who accuse the RCMP of outright corruption and obstruction in joint fentanyl investigations. Sam Cooper’s February 2025 exposé in The Bureau revealed that U.S. officials suspect corruption within Canadian border authorities, including the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and RCMP, with some suspects allegedly retaining positions despite red flags. A key case is the Falkland, B.C., superlab—Canada’s largest ever, capable of producing 95 million lethal doses of fentanyl. DEA intelligence reportedly tipped off the RCMP in late 2022 about precursor shipments linked to Chinese and Mexican cartels, but the RCMP delayed action for nearly two years, only raiding the site in October 2024 after U.S. Treasury sanctions forced their hand.
Former DEA Acting Administrator Derek Maltz and other U.S. veterans have publicly lambasted the RCMP for “stonewalling,” claiming refusals to share intelligence or collaborate exacerbated the North American fentanyl crisis. In a September 2025 Bureau podcast, Cooper detailed how the RCMP’s non-cooperation on the Falkland probe—tied to Iran-linked laundering and cartel financiers—fueled cross-border tensions, including U.S. tariff threats. Australian warnings about the Sam Gor syndicate—a massive Triad network laundering billions through Canadian casinos and real estate—were similarly ignored until U.S. pressure mounted.
Cooper, in an October 2025 committee testimony, warned that U.S. intelligence agencies are increasingly hesitant to share intel with Canadian counterparts due to these corruption links, stating: “Individuals inside the RCMP are linked to corruption, and the government is doing nothing about it.” This echoes broader claims in his work, where he connects RCMP failures to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) infiltration, money laundering, and espionage.
Sam Cooper’s Crusade: Uncovering the Underbelly
At the heart of these narratives is Sam Cooper, a veteran journalist whose investigations have exposed the intersections of organized crime, foreign states, and Canadian institutions. His 2021 book Wilful Blindness: How a Network of Narcos, Tycoons and CCP Agents Infiltrated the West detailed how Chinese-linked networks exploit Canadian vulnerabilities, from Vancouver’s real estate bubbles to fentanyl supply chains. In 2025, Cooper founded The Bureau, publishing exclusives like the Falkland lab story, which drew from U.S. and Canadian sources alleging RCMP “embarrassing” delays.
“He argues the RCMP’s issues stem from high-level cover-ups, including ties to the Trudeau government (now under PM Mark Carney), which allegedly obstructed probes into Asian crime syndicates.“
In interviews, such as a May 2024 podcast, Cooper questioned: “Is Canada corrupt? How corrupt is Canada?” He argues the RCMP’s issues stem from high-level cover-ups, including ties to the Trudeau government (now under PM Mark Carney), which allegedly obstructed probes into Asian crime syndicates. His October 2025 X post and related threads amplified these, linking RCMP inaction to broader sovereignty threats. Cooper’s work has resonated on platforms like X, where users decry media corruption in Ottawa for downplaying these scandals.
Failures to Keep Canadians Safe: A Lethal Legacy
The cumulative impact of these allegations is a perceived failure to protect Canadians from existential threats. Fentanyl, often produced in Canadian superlabs with Chinese precursors, has devastated communities, with overdose deaths hitting record highs in 2025. Cooper warns Canada has become a “fentanyl problem” for the world, exporting death while policy makers “turn a blind eye.”
Beyond drugs, RCMP lapses in foreign interference inquiries—such as slow responses to CCP-linked election meddling or diaspora harassment—have eroded public confidence. The November 2025 case of the “764/The Com” child torture network, where the RCMP allegedly ignored a 2021 tip until FBI intervention, exemplifies broader neglect. U.S. partners, frustrated by non-cooperation, now view Canada as a “weak link” in North American security.
Stakeholders demand reform: Opposition MPs call for independent oversight, while security experts advocate for a dedicated Financial Crimes Agency. Yet, as Cooper notes in a January 2026 update, “Corruption runs deep,” with little action under the current administration.
As tariffs loom and alliances strain, the RCMP’s challenges highlight a critical juncture for Canada. Without addressing these systemic issues, the force risks further alienating allies and endangering citizens in an increasingly interconnected world of crime and influence. For more on Cooper’s investigations, visit The Bureau or follow ongoing X discussions.