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California has announced it confiscated a record amount of Fentanyl in 2023, a quantity sufficient enough to kill the entire global population twice.

According to Governor Gavin Newsom, due to a surge of law enforcement activity, the state, along with its ports of entry, seized 62,224 pounds of Fentanyl, marking a significant increase in efforts to combat the opioid crisis. This effort represents a 1,066% increase in seizures by the California National Guard since 2021.

Governor Newsom addressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “Fentanyl is a poison, and it does not belong in our communities. California is cracking down – increasing seizures, expanding access to substance abuse treatment, and holding drug traffickers accountable to combat the immeasurable harm opioids have caused our communities.”

In response to the escalating crisis, Newsom announced an increase in the state’s National Guard presence at the border last September, aiming to intensify efforts against fentanyl smuggling. According to the governor’s office, this move is part of a broader initiative by the state to address opioid trafficking and support affected communities, with more than $1 billion invested in these efforts since 2019.