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-Editorial
California officials say more than $506 million worth of illicit fentanyl has been seized since 2021 under an expanded drug interdiction strategy that deploys California National Guard members to support law enforcement operations at ports of entry and along major transportation corridors.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the figures this week, citing data from the California Military Department and state law enforcement agencies. According to the governor’s office, the initiative began in 2021, when Newsom directed the National Guard to assist federal, state, and local authorities with intelligence gathering, search-and-seizure operations, and drug trafficking interdiction.
The effort is supported by a $30 million state investment approved through the California budget to expand the Guard’s counterdrug mission and strengthen coordination with High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area programs.
State officials said Guard members assigned to the Counter Drug Task Force have supported the seizure of 34,357 pounds of fentanyl, including more than 50 million pills, before the drugs entered California communities. Authorities estimate the street value of the seized fentanyl at approximately $506 million.
“Fentanyl is killing Californians every day,” Newsom said in a statement. He said the strategy focuses on disrupting trafficking networks before drugs reach neighborhoods and emphasized border and transportation corridor enforcement as a priority.
Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers, adjutant general of the California Military Department, said the additional state funding has expanded the Guard’s operational capacity and allowed sustained deployments at key ports of entry.
“The integration of dedicated state funding alongside federal resources allows us to increase personnel at critical locations and enhance support for law enforcement partners,” Beevers said. He added that the Guard’s role includes intelligence analysis, surveillance support, and logistical assistance.
According to state officials, California National Guard members are embedded in multiagency task forces that include federal agencies and local law enforcement departments. The Guard provides air and ground assets to assist criminal investigations targeting transnational criminal organizations involved in fentanyl trafficking.
The governor’s office said the interdiction work experienced disruptions during a period when Guard members were reassigned to federal missions, including wildfire response. After the Guard returned to state control, California restored its counterdrug operations, officials said.
In addition to border enforcement, California has expanded crime suppression efforts within the state through the California Highway Patrol. CHP officials said targeted deployments focus on high-crime areas and repeat offenders, with an emphasis on removing illegal firearms and narcotics from circulation.
Since regional crime suppression efforts began in 2024, CHP reported making 11,700 arrests statewide, recovering more than 6,200 stolen vehicles, and seizing nearly 500 illegal firearms.
“Drug trafficking and illegal firearms threaten the safety of communities across the state,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said in a statement. He said collaboration among law enforcement agencies has allowed officers to disrupt criminal networks and prevent violent crime.
CHP teams are currently operating in San Diego, the Inland Empire, Los Angeles, the Central Valley, Sacramento, and the San Francisco Bay Area. In the San Diego region alone, CHP said officers conducted 83 operations since 2025, resulting in 404 arrests, the recovery of 29 stolen vehicles, and the seizure of 104 pounds of illegal drugs.
Public health officials continue to warn that fentanyl remains a leading driver of overdose deaths. Authorities say fentanyl is primarily smuggled into the United States through ports of entry, often concealed in vehicles and frequently transported by U.S. citizens. Medical experts estimate that as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on a person’s tolerance and health, and that a single pound of fentanyl can contain approximately 225,000 potentially fatal doses.
Fentanyl is commonly mixed with other illicit drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, or pressed into counterfeit pills, increasing the risk of unintentional overdose.
As part of the state’s response to the opioid crisis, California has expanded access to naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses. The state now offers CalRx-branded over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray through the Naloxone Distribution Project, providing free doses to eligible organizations and selling the medication at a reduced price through commercial outlets.
State officials said the introduction of lower-priced CalRx naloxone contributed to a 22% reduction in generic naloxone prices in one quarter and has saved the state more than $40.9 million in less than two years. According to the administration, those savings have been reinvested in opioid prevention and treatment programs. Officials also reported more than 400,000 overdose reversals statewide linked to naloxone distribution efforts.
California has also launched opioids.ca.gov, a centralized website offering prevention, treatment, and recovery resources, as well as information on enforcement and litigation efforts related to opioid manufacturers and drug trafficking organizations.
The administration cited recent data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association showing year-over-year declines in violent crime across California jurisdictions that reported statistics. The data indicated an 18% decrease in homicides, an 18% drop in robberies, and a 9% reduction in aggravated assaults. Larger declines were reported in Oakland and San Francisco, according to the association.
Since 2019, California has invested more than $2.1 billion in public safety initiatives, including funding to help local governments hire law enforcement officers, expand crime prevention programs, and strengthen investigative capacity, the governor’s office said.
In 2023, Newsom announced expanded enforcement efforts targeting organized retail theft as part of the state’s broader public safety plan, including increased funding for special operations and coordinated investigations statewide.
