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San Diego Sheriff’s Office Seizes 1.9 Million Fentanyl Pills as Overdose Deaths Decline

Heavy enforcement may heighten overdose risk by driving users toward untested suppliers despite continued street-level availability.

Jun 23, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood (29) and CJ Abrams (5) celebrate after the Nationals beat the San Diego Padres 10-6 at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez speaks during a State of the Sheriff’s Office press conference at the San Diego Sheriff’s Technology and Information Center in San Diego on Friday, Feb. 07, 2025. (Hayne Palmour IV / For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Overview

  • The sheriff’s task force confiscated 1.9 million fentanyl tablets, plus 33 pounds of cocaine, 406 pounds of methamphetamine and 16.3 pounds of heroin over an 18-month span.
  • The seized fentanyl carried an estimated street value of $20.6 million.
  • County data show fentanyl-related fatalities fell by 30 percent in 2024 compared with the prior year.
  • Funding for the crackdown included $1 million in state aid secured in 2023 and a $500,000 allocation from the Board of Supervisors.
  • Recovery advocate Nathan Smiddy reports that enforcement surges can trigger two- to three-fold overdose spikes as users hunt for new, untested sources.