'It's like on Amazon': Illegal drugs advertised online, delivered by Canada Post

CBC Ottawa and Radio-Canada investigated illegal drug sales on the open internet, revealing cocaine, heroin and ecstasy advertised on Facebook and Instagram, paid for with credit cards and e-transfers, and shipped via Canada Post. A man identified as John shared his experience buying cocaine through social media ads, receiving a package with a Canada Post tracking number and testing the contents at a Quebec harm reduction clinic. The investigation found over a dozen sophisticated websites selling illegal drugs, using privacy tools to hide their digital footprint. Meta stated it removed flagged ads and disabled accounts, while Canada Post reported seizing 5,662 illegal items from 240 million parcels in 2024. The RCMP confirmed targeting individuals and networks profiting from online drug sales, but law enforcement faces challenges due to the scale and technical complexity of these operations.