California National Guard (CalGuard) counternarcotic teams helped seize more than 1.2 million fentanyl pills in October, the highest monthly total to date in 2025, state data shows. The pills have an estimated street value of $6.45 million.
The seizures are part of the state’s expanded drug enforcement efforts, backed by a $30 million state investment to bolster CalGuard’s role in drug interdiction and support programs targeting high-intensity drug trafficking areas. This year, CalGuard members, along with partner agencies, have seized more than 2,345 kilograms of fentanyl — more than 3 million pills — worth nearly $43 million. Since they started drug interdiction efforts in 2021, CalGuard members have helped seize more than 15,900 kilograms of fentanyl and more than 51.8 million pills containing fentanyl, with a street value of nearly $500 million.
“Our California National Guard service members have answered the call to help Californians time and again — taking on illegal drug operations, strengthening our wildfire resilience, and stepping up for families who need support during the holidays,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a news release. “We thank them for their continued service and commitment to the people they serve.”
There are 400 CalGuard members deployed statewide, including at ports of entry, to combat transnational criminal organizations and seize illegal drugs, the news release said. Fentanyl is primarily smuggled into the country through ports of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection says. In the past year, Newsom announced an increase in staffing and enforcement of CalGuard’s operations against illicit fentanyl operations.
“More Americans died from drug overdoses in 2022 and 2023 than U.S. soldiers killed in every war since World War II combined,” state Assemblyman David Tangipa told the Washington Examiner news magazine. “I’m proud to see the National Guard expanding its efforts to stop fentanyl, and I hope to see even larger, coordinated operations in the future.”
CalGuard members also spotlight the dangers of illegal drugs in schools throughout the state. In drug prevention efforts at elementary, middle and high schools, CalGuard’s Drug Demand Reduction Outreach program visited 73 schools and reached 24,673 students in October.
In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on February 13, 2025, Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, commander of United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command, said: “Transnational criminal organizations based in Mexico continue to threaten U.S. sovereignty and territorial integrity through the production and trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs and the facilitation of unlawful mass migration toward the U.S. southern border,” he said. “The narcotics smuggled into the United States by transnational criminal organizations are directly responsible for tens of thousands of deaths each year, and USNORTHCOM will continue to work with partners in reducing the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.”