Are Facebook ads helping users buy illegal drugs by mail in Canada - Drugs travel through an ad to a postal delivery; $9 million worth of illegal drugs were turned over to police in 2024 by Canada Post

In a shocking revelation by prominent Canadian media outlet, Toronto Star, a growing number of Facebook ads are reportedly helping users buy illegal drugs that are then delivered through the mail in Canada, raising serious concerns among authorities. The ads, disguised as promotions, often redirect users to messaging platforms or shadowy online stores. From there, buyers can order illegal drugs with consummate ease, which are discreetly mailed to their homes.

According to the Toronto Star, a gram of cocaine arrived neatly packaged in a Canada Post delivery. So did the Oxycodone - 20 mg pills, each sealed in small baggies decorated with green dollar signs and gold crowns. There was no effort to disguise the contents; a clear plastic container labeled 'REGULAR COKE' held the powder. Beneath it sat an invoice, complete with a promotional note: 'Refer a friend for $20 off your next order'.

The most alarming aspect of this trade is that the sellers’ ads ran on Facebook, the world’s largest social platform. A single click, by the Toronto Star, on an ad led to online shops peddling cocaine, opioids, MDMA, Xanax, ketamine and more. Orders could be placed in minutes using Interac e-Transfer, making the banned, highly addictive drugs shockingly easy to buy and ship through the mail.


According to Toronto Star, Meta - the company behind Facebook and Instagram - claims to have 'zero tolerance' for ads promoting illegal or recreational drugs and says it continually strengthens its detection systems. However, such ads persist in reaching Canadian users’ feeds, earning Meta revenue from traffickers exploiting its powerful algorithms. These same algorithms often target individuals most vulnerable to addiction, exposing them to dangerous offers and raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of Meta’s safeguards against illicit online drug marketing.

According to Meta’s Ad Library, which lists advertiser pages and their administrators, the drug ads reviewed by the Star appeared to target Canadian adults. However, the linked websites can be easily shared.

HOW DRUGS TRAVELED THROUGH AN AD TO A POSTAL DELIVERY

According to a Toronto Star investigation, the ads promoting illegal drugs blend seamlessly into users’ Facebook feeds, appearing beside posts from friends and family, marked only by a subtle 'Sponsored' tag. Some use coded language like 'Looking for a trusted supplier for your next trip?' while others are blatant. One such ad displayed an image of cocaine.

After a $100 e-Transfer, a gram of cocaine from an online shop called Trippi arrived within days via Canada Post Xpresspost. The sleekly packaged parcel, labeled as coming from 'The Art Loft', traced back to a storage facility in Richmond, British Columbia.

CANADA POST TURNED OVER $9 MILLION WORTH OF DRUGS TO POLICE IN 20024

Canada Post revealed, in a statement to Toronto Star, that over $9 million worth of illegal drugs were seized and handed over to law enforcement authorities last year.

"We remain committed to supporting the efforts of our law enforcement partners to stem the transmission of illegal drugs through the mail," a spokesperson said.