As California National Guard’s specialized narcotics teams are back to full strength after many servicemembers were pulled off their assignments by President Trump to deploy to Los Angeles unnecessarily, in September alone, they have helped seize 891 pounds of fentanyl – a 240% increase since June.
Worth an estimated $6.75 million, this work to take down illicit fentanyl means less dangerous drugs on the streets.
The California National Guard isn’t just about defense — it’s about service to Californians. Their work is humanitarian at its core – compassion in uniform. Every single person benefits when the Guard is out there — because their service reminds us we’re all connected, and that the strength of this state comes from the goodness of those who give more than they take.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
Since they started drug interdiction efforts in 2021, they have helped seize over 34,350 pounds of fentanyl and more than 50.6 million pills containing fentanyl, with a street value of more than $492 million.
So far this year, servicemembers, along with partner agencies, have helped seize 4,460 pounds of fentanyl, which is nearly 2 million pills, worth an estimated value of nearly $36 million.
There are over 400 servicemembers deployed statewide, including at ports of entry, to combat transnational criminal organizations and seize illegal narcotics. As soldiers have gotten back to doing important public safety work, it’s important to remember that an estimated 32% of CalGuard’s servicemembers dedicated to the Counterdrug Task Force were reassigned by the President to unlawfully militarize Los Angeles.
Fentanyl is primarily smuggled into the country by U.S. citizens through ports of entry. Within the last year, Governor Newsom announced continued augmentation in staffing and enforcement of CalGuard’s illicit fentanyl operations.
Photos courtesy of the Governor’s office
