Freight vs Pax Ops are no different under FAA*, EASA, CAA, CAD regs. (Caveat as FAA does have some more lax flight time limitations for freight ops).
Not exactly the same. E.g., many hazardous materials (including lithium battery shipments) are allowed on freight ops but banned as cargo on passenger aircraft. And we know lithium battery fires have been suspected as the cause of several recent cargo crashes.
Also many private cargo ops under Part 125 get various exemptions (as compared to 121). Formal training isn't even required under Part 125.
Similarly, cargo ops under Part 121 Supplemental don't require flight dispatchers, for example (only "flight followers").
The more relaxed duty time limits / fatigue may also have been a factor in several accidents.