By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez on Friday honored County Supervisor Joel Anderson and Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones for what she described as their steadfast commitment to public safety and their leadership in combating illicit fentanyl.
Martinez presented the two lawmakers with special commendations during a ceremony at the Sheriff’s Technology and Information Center in Kearny Mesa. Representatives from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, San Diego Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department, Oceanside Police Department, Carlsbad Police Department, La Mesa Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations attended the event.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, fentanyl has become one of the deadliest drugs in the nation over the past decade. In San Diego County, the toll has been severe. In 2021, approximately 743 people died from fentanyl-related overdoses, accounting for more than 70% of all overdose deaths in the region.
While officials report progress in recent years–including a 30% decrease in fentanyl-related deaths in 2024–494 lives were still lost last year.
“While recent years have shown progress, with a 30% decrease in fentanyl-related deaths in 2024, the loss of 494 lives remains a sobering reminder that our work is far from over,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Martinez outlined a comprehensive strategy to address the crisis, combining targeted enforcement to dismantle trafficking networks, harm reduction efforts such as widespread naloxone distribution, and education and prevention programs aimed at informing families and youth about the dangers of illicit drugs.
The Sheriff’s Office credited that multi-pronged approach with contributing to the decline in fentanyl-related deaths locally and nationally.
To bolster enforcement efforts, Jones secured a $1 million state allocation in 2023. Anderson later championed an additional $1 million investment through the San Diego County Board of Supervisors in 2024 and 2025, allocating $500,000 per year.
The funding supported the Sheriff’s Office’s Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team, known as FAST, and partner agencies. Officials said the team has seized nearly $26.6 million worth of illicit fentanyl — including 1.7 million pills and 118 pounds of powder — and made 90 arrests of suspected traffickers.
“I am grateful for all the hard work being done by the law enforcement community here in San Diego County to combat the fentanyl crisis,” Martinez said. “It wasn’t just the Sheriff’s Office that did this work. The money secured by Senator Jones and Supervisor Anderson went to support law enforcement in the important work of getting fentanyl off our streets.”
She also thanked county departments and community-based organizations for raising awareness, particularly among young people.
Martinez said the county will continue to focus on enforcement, harm reduction and education in an effort to further reduce fentanyl-related deaths and protect public safety.
