Golden State Today

Nearly 400 California National Guard service members are being deployed statewide and at ports of entry along the border to prevent illegal drugs, such as fentanyl, from entering communities.

SAN YSIDRO – Governor Gavin Newsom announced today that he is more than doubling the California National Guard’s (Cal Guard) Counter Drug Taskforce operations statewide, including at ports of entry along the border. The number of service members will increase from 155 to nearly 400.

These CalGuard members with the Counter Drug Taskforce have been hired, trained, and placed at key locations statewide as part of cross-government initiatives to combat transnational criminal organizations and the trafficking of illegal narcotics like fentanyl.

Governor Newsom stated, "Our top priority is the safety of our communities statewide. By working with state, local, and federal partners to take down transnational organizations and the illegal drugs they attempt to bring into our state, the state’s Counter Drug Taskforce is making a profound difference to hold smugglers accountable and take deadly drugs off our streets."

During a recent visit to the border, Governor Newsom observed firsthand the progress made by the Taskforce. CalGuard Major General Matthew Beevers commented on this progress: “Beginning in 2022, the CalGuard’s Counter Drug Taskforce deployed 30 servicemembers to the San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Tecate, and Calexico Ports of Entry to support our federal partners. Due to significant initial success, in 2023 we doubled our force across those Ports of Entry. Under Governor Newsom’s leadership and broad Congressional support, our Counter Drug Taskforce has grown from 155 full-time servicemembers to 392 today.”

The Taskforce focuses on gathering information to interdict illegal narcotics trafficking using air and ground assets to build criminal investigations and supporting personnel at border ports of entry.

Last month, Governor Newsom announced that CalGuard operations supported the seizure of 5.8 million pills containing fentanyl this year alone. Last year saw an increase in CalGuard service members deployed to interdict drugs at U.S. ports of entry along the border by approximately 50%. These operations resulted in a record seizure of 62,224 pounds of fentanyl in 2023 — a significant increase since 2021.

CalGuard's drug interdiction efforts are funded partly by California’s $30 million investment aimed at preventing drug trafficking by transnational criminal organizations and support from the Biden-Harris Administration for humanitarian and security efforts.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, most fentanyl is smuggled into the U.S. at ports of entry by U.S. citizens rather than migrants seeking asylum.

Synthetic opioids like fentanyl contribute significantly to overdose deaths. In response, Governor Newsom recently launched opioids.ca.gov as a resource for Californians seeking prevention and treatment information. The state also plans to purchase life-saving naloxone at reduced prices.

The Governor’s Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis outlines steps for overdose prevention efforts, holding pharmaceutical companies accountable, cracking down on drug trafficking, and raising awareness about opioid dangers.

In support of President Biden’s bilateral cooperation agreement with China on counternarcotics issues, Governor Newsom discussed combating transnational shipping of precursor chemicals used for creating fentanyl with Chinese President Xi Jinping last October.

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