California Calls on National Guard to Seize 1,500 Pounds of Fentanyl at the Border
The California National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force assisted in seizing 1,541 pounds of illicit fentanyl at the southern border last month, capturing over 1.7 million fentanyl pills valued at approximately $11.9 million.
Guard members within the task force are actively participating in multi-agency endeavors to dismantle transnational criminal organizations involved in fentanyl and other illicit drug trafficking.
“California’s relentless efforts to keep fentanyl out of our communities have led to law enforcement confiscating over 204% more fentanyl last month compared to the previous month,” stated Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Guard members have been pivotal in the state’s anti-drug trafficking initiatives, Newsom acknowledged.
In June, the governor expanded the number of Guard members dedicated to intercepting fentanyl and other drugs, increasing the count from 155 to nearly 400 at California’s ports of entry. Additionally, in the same month, Guard members contributed to the confiscation of more than 1 million fentanyl pills and 423 pounds of fentanyl powder statewide.
In a video filmed in June at the Mexico border near the San Ysidro Port of Entry, Newsom mentioned that over 390 Guard members are deployed to work on drug interdiction, reconnaissance, and other activities on the border and across the state.
“This effort will aid in dismantling transnational criminal organizations and preventing the entry of illegal drugs into our state, ensuring those involved in smuggling are held accountable and preventing dangerous drugs from reaching our streets,” Newsom shared on X.
The task force leverages air and ground assets to intercept narcotics trafficking and establish criminal investigations.
Following initial success in 2022, Newsom enhanced the deployment of Guard members at border entries from 40 to 60 the next year. The state has invested $60 million over four years to expand the Guard’s operations in California, as per the governor’s statement.
Deploying Guard members at the border mirrors the governor’s strategy of enlisting the California Highway Patrol to combat drug trafficking in the Bay Area.
A collaboration called the public safety partnership in San Francisco from May 2023 to May 2024 led to the confiscation of nearly 700 pounds of fentanyl.
The Guard is also visible in California communities through its “War on Fentanyl” campaign, aimed at educating young people about the dangers of narcotics.
On Sept. 11, Cal Guard and its Drug Demand Reduction Outreach team met with students at Fontana Middle School in San Bernardino County to discuss the perils of fentanyl and its impact on young lives following the tragic death of a 12-year-old student due to fentanyl poisoning.
California recorded 7,560 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2023, reported the state Department of Public Health. The mortality rate stood at 19.39 per 100,000 residents, marking a 5% increase from 2022.
