DOJ launches crackdown on SF drug market
Comprehensive Response Launched to Combat San Francisco’s Open Drug Market
SAN FRANCISCO—A groundbreaking initiative called “All Hands on Deck” was unveiled on Nov. 2 to tackle the rampant drug problem in San Francisco. Ismail J. Ramsey, the U.S. Attorney of California Northern District, announced the joint effort involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in a press conference.
“‘All Hands on Deck’ was designed to change the basic cost/benefit analysis for fentanyl dealers,” said Mr. Ramsey.
The strategy includes targeted wiretaps, arrests, and searches throughout the Bay Area to disrupt the flow of drugs and dealers into San Francisco from neighboring counties. Notably, even low-level street fentanyl dealers apprehended by local law enforcement may now face federal charges under this new approach.
Since the implementation of this strategy, over 30 suspects have been charged with federal crimes in the past four months. Additionally, law enforcement has seized nearly 50 kilos of fentanyl and 12 kilos of methamphetamine from the streets of Tenderloin, marking a significant increase compared to the previous year.
According to data from Feb. 12, 2020, to Feb. 12, 2023, San Francisco witnessed 218 fatal overdoses, with fentanyl being a major contributor. Non-fatal overdoses numbered at 8,974, and a map revealed that areas with high rates of violent crimes coincided with drug hotspots.
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DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark of the San Francisco field division emphasized the need for action, stating, “It is no secret that parts of this great city are infamously known for an open air drug market where substance use and crime have exploded. That is due in large part to tolerance for drug trafficking, permissive attitudes, fast profits, and a lack of penalties, [which] has been an open invitation for organized crime to come in and operate in San Francisco.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has identified the Sinaloa and Holy School cartels as the primary culprits flooding San Francisco with fentanyl. These criminal enterprises rely on a global supply chain, sourcing precursor chemicals from companies in China and manufacturing the drugs in Mexico for distribution across the United States.
According to Mr. Clark, the Sinaloa Cartel dominates drug manufacturing and trafficking in the Tenderloin district. The cartel is primarily controlled by Honduran organizations, whose members commute to San Francisco to sell drugs. Covert operations conducted in the Tenderloin have uncovered numerous firearms, various drugs, and over 1.6 million lethal doses of fentanyl.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed expressed gratitude to the multiple agencies involved in the initiative, acknowledging their significant contributions to the city’s fight against drugs. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins highlighted the challenges faced by her office, including the need for judges to take the issue seriously and grant motions to detain drug dealers.
Police Chief William Scott issued a stern warning to drug dealers, asserting that law enforcement will not relent in their efforts to combat the drug crisis. Fentanyl, the leading cause of death for adults aged 18 to 49 in the United States, remains a top priority for the Justice Department under the guidance of Attorney General Garland.
How has the implementation of this initiative led to an increase in federal charges and drug seizures?
Inistration (DEA) and other law enforcement agencies have been working tirelessly to combat the drug crisis in San Francisco. However, the ”All Hands on Deck” initiative marks a new, comprehensive response in tackling the open drug market.
The main objective of this initiative is to change the cost/benefit analysis for fentanyl dealers, as stated by Ismail J. Ramsey, the U.S. Attorney of California Northern District. This means that even low-level street fentanyl dealers apprehended by local law enforcement may now face federal charges under this new approach. The focus is to disrupt the flow of drugs and dealers into San Francisco from neighboring counties through targeted wiretaps, arrests, and searches throughout the Bay Area.
Since the implementation of this strategy in the past four months, over 30 suspects have been charged with federal crimes. Additionally, law enforcement has seized nearly 50 kilos of fentanyl and 12 kilos of methamphetamine from the streets of Tenderloin. These numbers mark a significant increase compared to the previous year, indicating the effectiveness of the initiative.
The need for such action is supported by alarming data. From Feb. 12, 2020, to Feb. 12, 2023, San Francisco witnessed 218 fatal overdoses, with fentanyl as a major contributor. Non-fatal overdoses numbered at 8,974. A map revealed that areas with high rates of violent crimes coincided with drug hotspots, emphasizing the urgency to address this issue.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark expressed the necessity of taking action, highlighting the permissive attitudes, tolerance for drug trafficking, and lack of penalties that have fueled the open drug market in certain areas of San Francisco. These factors have allowed organized crime to operate freely in the city.
The ”All Hands on Deck” initiative represents a significant step towards combating the drug crisis in San Francisco. By involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, this joint effort aims to disrupt the drug supply chain and hold dealers accountable for their actions. The increased federal charges for low-level street fentanyl dealers send a clear message that drug trafficking will not be tolerated. Hopefully, this comprehensive response will bring about positive change and ultimately help reduce the open drug market in San Francisco.
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