The California National Guard's anti-drug task force seized an estimated $3.8 million worth of fentanyl at the state's ports of entry in August, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday.
The California National Guard seized more than 772,000 pills containing fentanyl in August, and has seized a total of 9.6 million pills and 5,000 pounds of fentanyl powder since January. According to Go to press release. The total amount seized has an estimated street value of more than $43 million.
“Every month, the California National Guard continues its lifesaving mission to assist local, state, and federal agencies in removing dangerous illegal drugs from our communities,” Newsom said in a statement. “Thank you Cal Guard for making our neighborhoods safer.”
U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-Mich.) holds up a bag representing fentanyl during a Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on January 11, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP, Getty Images)
In California, there were nearly 7,000 fentanyl-related overdose deaths from 2006 to 2023, and that number increased 121% between 2019 and 2021. According to to the California Department of Public Health. In June, Newsom more than doubled the number of Cal Guard officers stationed at the state's ports of entry to combat the growing fentanyl crisis, increasing the number of Guard members from 155 to nearly 400. According to Go to press release. (Related: Majority of Californians support tougher penalties for theft, drug possession: poll)
A July report found that Chinese suppliers are making it easier to obtain raw materials to make fentanyl in the United States. Newsom met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chinese officials in October 2023 for discussions. in battle Cross-border transportation of precursor chemicals from China to the United States
Border officials seized more than 26,700 pounds of fentanyl at the southern border in 2023, a 480% increase from 2020. According to According to a report published by the National Immigration Forum. The governor's press release said fentanyl is “smuggled into the country primarily by U.S. citizens through ports of entry.”
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