Governor Gavin Newsom amplified efforts to curb the fentanyl crisis, announcing a 50% increase in CalGuard forces at U.S.-Mexico border ports of entry, according to a press release. This strategy aims to significantly hinder narcotics trafficking.
"Fentanyl is a deadly poison ripping families and communities apart," Newsom said.
Newsom is escalating California's efforts against the fentanyl and opioid crisis, according to a press release issued today. The deployment of California National Guard (CalGuard) members at U.S. ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border is set to increase by approximately 50%, enhancing the number from 40 to 60 soldiers.
Newsom emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "California is cracking down — and today we’re going further by deploying more CalGuard service members to combat this crisis and keep our communities safe.”
The intensified deployment is an essential facet of California's multi-dimensional approach to combating the opioid crisis, which has seen investments surpassing $1 billion since 2019. The strategy involves an intricate network of initiatives encapsulated in the "Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis." The CalRx initiative stands as a crucial part of this framework with a dedicated budget of $30 million aimed at developing and distributing a naloxone nasal product to tackle overdose situations effectively.
As outlined in the press release, the CalGuard has been instrumental in aiding U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in narcotic search operations, a collaboration that encompasses the operation of a vehicle X-ray system vital in identifying and halting the transportation of concealed narcotics. This collaboration bore fruit last year, resulting in a 594% increase in seized fentanyl in California, equating to 28,765 lbs of fentanyl with an estimated street value of over $230 million.
The statistics from the press release paint a harrowing picture of the crisis; over 150 Americans succumb daily to overdoses and poisonings related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The release also highlights a significant detail from the Department of Homeland Security, emphasizing that the majority of the fentanyl smuggled into the U.S. is brought in at ports of entry largely by U.S. citizens, not migrants seeking asylum.
