The Golden State has been engaging in a vigorous battle against the proliferation of fentanyl, with Governor Gavin Newsom reporting a significant haul by the California National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force. Over eight million fentanyl pills have been captured in the first half of this year, with the seizures of June reaching over one million pills and 423 pounds of fentanyl powder, as announced on Governor Newsom's official website. These seizures underline an aggressive state effort to stamp out the flow of this deadly opioid, whose potency can make a few grains equivalent to a lethal dose.
In a statement obtained by the governor’s press office, Newsom stressed that California is "doubling down on our work to tackle the opioid and fentanyl crisis." Engagement within the state has led to more boots on the ground to potentially intercept these drugs at border points. Last month, the state was reported to have nearly double the strength of Cal Guard’s Counter Drug Task Force operations, ramping up available service members from 155 to nearly 400, as per the Office of the Governor..
Major General Matthew Beevers of the Cal Guard told the press, "We are proud to be a part of this effort and will continue to provide critical resources to our local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement partners," as stated by the Office of the Governor.
The Cal Guard’s intensified interdiction efforts are part of California's $60 million bid to combat drug trafficking. Last year, operations supported by the Cal Guard led to a record seizure of 62,224 pounds of fentanyl, denoting an overwhelming increase since 2021.
