California Governor Gavin Newsom has doubled the number of National Guard troops along California’s border with Mexico to tackle drug trafficking issues.
The California National Guard County Drug Task Force now includes 400 service members, up from 155, with the aim of addressing the surge in border encounters and drug-related problems, including rising opioid abuse and drug overdoses linked to cross-border smuggling.
In a press statement, Newsom emphasized the importance of safeguarding all communities in the state, with the Counter Drug Taskforce of California collaborating with various levels of government to combat transnational criminal organizations and illegal drug trafficking.
CalGuard, also known as CalGuard, reported seizing 5.8 million fentanyl pills between January and April, 2.3 million in April alone. Major General Matthew Beevers of CalGuard plans to deploy 30 military personnel to Southern California entry points.
Beevers affirmed that due to the taskforce’s success, troop numbers will double by 2023 at all Ports of Entry. Under Newsom’s guidance and congressional support, the Counter Drug Taskforce has grown from 155 to 392 members.
Recent years have seen a spike in drug-related overdoses in the U.S., with synthetic opioids like fentanyl projected as the primary cause in 2022. Newsom’s office indicated in a recent release that most fentanyl smuggling is done by U.S. citizens.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, West Virginia had the highest drug-related death rate in 2022, while California recorded 26.9 drug-related deaths per 100,000 residents.