California National Guard’s Counter Drug Task Force ramps up fentanyl seizures while educating 57,000 students on the dangers of opioid abuse

Sacramento, California – In a sweeping effort to tackle the opioid crisis in California, the California National Guard (CalGuard) has made significant strides in the fight against illegal fentanyl trafficking in 2025. With over 650,000 fentanyl pills and 1,045 pounds of the drug seized within the first two months of the year, the efforts of CalGuard’s Counter Drug Task Force have been instrumental in combating this lethal epidemic. The seized drugs, including both pills and powdered fentanyl, have an estimated street value exceeding $6.8 million, highlighting the scale of the operation and the ongoing threat posed by these dangerous substances.

Governor Gavin Newsom has praised the task force for their pivotal role in these operations, emphasizing that their actions have saved countless lives.

“By disrupting the trafficking of the 1,045 pounds of fentanyl so far this year, Cal Guard’s Counter Drug Task Force continues to save countless lives across our state. I cannot thank them enough for their support in keeping deadly fentanyl out of our communities.,” said Newsom.

The Counter Drug Task Force has not only focused on intercepting drugs but also on preventative measures through their Drug Demand Reduction Outreach program. Since October 2024, the service members have visited 112 schools across California, reaching over 57,000 students.

These educational efforts are part of a broader strategy to address drug use before it starts, utilizing the Health Belief Model to understand and influence students’ perceptions about their health and drug use.

Efforts to curb fentanyl trafficking are supported by substantial state funding, including a $60 million investment over four years aimed at expanding the capabilities of the CalGuard to prevent drug trafficking by transnational criminal organizations. This is part of a larger effort by Governor Newsom to strengthen the state’s response to fentanyl, including rigorous crackdowns in high-risk communities such as San Francisco.

Additionally, the state has initiated several other measures under the Governor’s Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis. This comprehensive strategy supports overdose prevention, holds the pharmaceutical industry accountable, and combats drug trafficking. Recent legislative actions include the Campus Opioid Act, requiring public colleges to distribute opioid overdose reversal medications and to educate students about opioid risks.

In a recent significant enforcement action, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of three major fentanyl traffickers involved in a $55 million drug bust, marking a critical success under the Fentanyl Enforcement Program funded in the 2022-23 state budget.

To further aid in prevention and treatment, the state also runs the website opioids.ca.gov, a resource providing information on prevention, treatment options, and efforts to hold accountable those responsible for the opioid crisis. In line with public education efforts, the state has launched the Facts Fight Fentanyl campaign to spread awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and the availability of life-saving tools like naloxone.

Through the Naloxone Distribution Project, naloxone—an effective opioid overdose reversal medication—is now available over the counter across California. Since 2018, this initiative has been credited with over 334,000 overdose reversals, underscoring its importance in the fight against this devastating epidemic.