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https://ktla.com/news/california/governor-newsom-increases-california-national-guard-deployment-at-border-by-152-to-curb-fentanyl-smuggling/
Governor Newsom increases California National Guard deployment at border
by 152% to curb fentanyl smuggling
by: Austin Turner
Posted: Jun 13, 2024 / 10:17 AM PDT
Updated: Jun 13, 2024 / 10:48 AM PDT
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In an effort to cut down on migrant fentanyl smuggling, California
Governor Gavin Newsom has announced an increase in the deployment
state’s National Guard across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Announced on Thursday, Newsom plans to more than double the presence of
the Cal Guard’s Counter Drug Taskforce from 155 service members to 392.
“Our top priority is the safety of our communities statewide,” Newsom
said in a statement. “By working with state, local, and federal partners
to take down transnational organizations and the illegal drugs they
attempt to bring into our state, the state’s Counter Drug Taskforce is
making a profound difference to hold smugglers accountable and take
deadly drugs off our streets.”
FILE – This photo provided by the U.S. Attorneys Office for Utah and introduced as evidence in a 2019 trial shows fentanyl-laced fake
oxycodone pills collected during an investigation. (U.S. Attorney’s Office) The 152% increase in service members is an attempt to curb illegal drug smuggling — including fentanyl — at several key ports along the southern border. California began deploying the Counter Drug Taskforce at the
border in 2022, initially with just 30 service members.
“Beginning in 2022, the CalGuard’s Counter Drug Taskforce deployed 30 service members to the San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, Tecate, and Calexico Ports
of Entry to support our federal partners,” said CalGuard Major General Matthew Beevers. “Due to significant initial success, in 2023, we
doubled our force across those Ports of Entry. Under Governor Newsom’s leadership and broad Congressional support, our Counter Drug Taskforce
has grown from 155 full-time service members to 392 today.”
Newsom’s office says the taskforce has seized 5.8 million pills
containing fentanyl this year so far. Last year, 62,224 pounds of
fentanyl were seized.
According to the office, the majority of fentanyl smuggling across
border ports of entry is done by U.S. citizens — not migrants.
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