Canada and Mexico are expected to intensify efforts this week to avoid punishing 25% tariffs on their exports to the U.S. in talks to persuade President Donald Trump's administration that their steps to increase border security and curb fentanyl trafficking are working ahead of a March 4 deadline.

Earlier this month Angel Ramon Barajas-Zarate, 26, was sentenced to 11 years in prison after bringing large quantities of fentanyl and meth into the Tri-Cities by hiding it in microwaves and other new appliances and goods mailed to the Benton City Post Office.

The CIA has been flying MQ9 Reaper drones over Mexico to help sniff out dangerous cartels and fentanyl laboratories, in partnership with the country's government.

Mexico has announced a series of major drug discoveries in recent weeks in an apparent attempt to highlight increased efforts to combat drug smuggling.

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A U.S. funding freeze has halted a U.N. program in Mexico aimed at curbing the smuggling of fentanyl chemicals. The program trained Mexican authorities at key ports to tackle contraband smuggling but is now stalled,

The other side of the border has been beefed up too. The US Department of Defence has ordered 1,500 additional active-duty troops there to tackle the national emergency declared by Mr Trump. Airborne surveillance has been ramped up to monitor Mexican gangs.

Trump's tariffs on Mexico and Canada, aimed at curbing fentanyl flow, may worsen the crisis by spiking overdoses, a harm reduction advocate warns.

One human smuggler who spoke to NBC News said the troops wouldn’t make a difference, but conceded stricter border policies had significantly cut into his business.

To better understand the implications of Trump’s early actions, we spoke with WOLA experts John Walsh and Stephanie Brewer. In this conversation, they break down the latest on Trump’s proposed tariffs,

The U.S. is flying drones into Mexico to gather intelligence on fentanyl labs within the country, according to the New York Times.