California National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force seized over 8 million fentanyl pills and more than 4,000 pounds of fentanyl powder in the first six months of 2024, Gov. Newsom announced early Wednesday.

In June alone, the task force recovered more than 1 million pills and 423 pounds of powder, with a combined street value of nearly $3.9 million.

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,” Newsom said. “Just last month, our Counterdrug Task Force helped seize one million deadly fentanyl pills and hundreds of pounds of fentanyl powder.”

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Fentanyl Accounts for 200 Deaths Daily

The opioid crisis has claimed over 564,000 lives in the U.S. over the past two decades, with fentanyl, a potent opioid, responsible for a significant portion of these deaths. An amount as small as a few grains of salt can be lethal. The crisis resulted in more than 200 deaths daily in 2022, according to the CDC.

Newsom implemented a plan that includes measures for overdose prevention, holding the pharmaceutical industry accountable, cracking down on drug trafficking, and increasing public awareness.

Last month, Newsom also announced a major expansion of the Cal Guard Counterdrug Task Force from 155 to nearly 400 members. The task force plays a crucial role in narcotics interdiction, supporting law enforcement agencies with information gathering, border security, and criminal investigations.

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“The California National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force continues to play an important role in the fight against fentanyl,” said Cal Guard Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers. “We are proud to be a part of this effort.”

In 2023, Cal Guard operations led to a record seizure of 62,224 pounds of fentanyl, a 1,066% increase since 2021. This effort is part of a $60 million state investment aimed at preventing drug trafficking.

Additionally, Newsom’s plan includes expanded access to naloxone, a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, available through the Naloxone Distribution Project. Californians can access prevention and treatment resources at opioids.ca.gov.