Golden State Today

Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the California National Guard's Counterdrug Task Force supported the seizure of over 8 million fentanyl pills in the first six months of 2024. In June alone, more than 1 million illegal pills were seized.

Newsom stated, "We’re doubling down on our work to tackle the opioid and fentanyl crisis. California is hard at work getting illegal fentanyl off our streets, intercepting the drug at our border, and holding traffickers accountable. Just last month, our Counterdrug Task Force helped seize one million deadly fentanyl pills and hundreds of pounds of fentanyl powder from communities across the state."

The task force reported seizing 1,068,219 fentanyl pills and 423 pounds of fentanyl powder in June, with an estimated street value of $3,875,355. Since January, they have confiscated over 4,000 pounds of powder and more than eight million pills.

The opioid crisis has resulted in over 564,000 overdose deaths in the United States over the past two decades. Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid responsible for many fatalities; just a few grains can cause a lethal overdose. Over 150 people die daily from synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

In response to this ongoing crisis, Governor Newsom introduced his Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis. The plan includes measures to support overdose prevention efforts, hold pharmaceutical companies accountable, crack down on drug trafficking, and raise awareness about opioid dangers.

Last month, Newsom announced an expansion of Cal Guard’s Counter Drug Task Force operations statewide from 155 to nearly 400 service members. This expansion focuses on stopping narcotics trafficking at southern border ports of entry through information gathering and criminal investigations using air and ground assets.

"The California National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force continues to play an important role in the fight against fentanyl," said Cal Guard Major General Matthew Beevers. "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."

Increased deployment efforts led by Governor Newsom resulted in a record seizure of 62,224 pounds of fentanyl in 2023 — a significant increase since 2021. These operations are partially funded by California's $60 million investment aimed at preventing drug trafficking by transnational criminal organizations.

Additionally included in Newsom’s Master Plan is access to over-the-counter CalRx®-branded naloxone throughout California via the Naloxone Distribution Project. Eligible organizations can receive it for free or purchase it through Amneal for $24 per twin-pack.

Further efforts include doubling Cal Guard service members' deployment numbers and launching resources for prevention and treatment accessible at opioids.ca.gov.