Coordinated Federal-Local Law Enforcement Efforts Lead Surge in Arrests, Drug Seizures, and Federal Drug Trafficking Charges in San Francisco 

December 17, 2025 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement partners announced on Tuesday the results of a surge in federal drug enforcement measures in San Francisco over the past two months. Coordinated federal and local law enforcement efforts resulted in the seizure of over 1.04 kilograms of fentanyl—alone enough to kill nearly half a million people—over 623 grams of methamphetamine, over 140 grams of powder cocaine, over 277 grams of cocaine base, and over 250 grams of heroin and approximately 55 arrests from early October to early December 2025.

Image by Ray Shrewsberry • Ray_Shrewsberry from Pixabay 

Over the same period, the U.S. Attorney’s Office brought federal criminal charges against 22 defendants for drug trafficking in San Francisco.

“San Francisco is fast becoming a model for what can be accomplished when federal law enforcement works together with our local partners to serve the public. The days of open-air drug markets on every corner and rampant overdose deaths are over. Anyone who thinks about coming to San Francisco to sell drugs must understand this: if you deal drugs, you will be arrested and prosecuted, and you will face serious consequences. We will continue to work tirelessly alongside our federal and local law enforcement partners to take fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other deadly drugs off the street and to protect the residents of this great city,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian.

“Thanks to increased enforcement and intensified efforts, our strategic partnerships with local law enforcement plays a critical role in eradicating this poison from our communities. With continued urgency, we will disrupt the fentanyl supply chain, reducing its availability along with other drugs. We remain committed to protecting and saving American lives,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris.

“Since early October, the FBI has coordinated with SFPD and our other local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to intensify our efforts targeting narcotics activity in and around San Francisco’s Tenderloin District. These collaborative efforts have resulted in a significant number of arrests and major seizures of illegal drugs,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “San Francisco residents deserve safe streets, free from deadly drugs. We are united, we are persistent, and we are committed to keeping our neighborhoods safe.”

“The San Francisco Police Department is committed to working collaboratively to combat the drug crisis on our streets,” said Interim SFPD Chief Paul Yep. “Anyone dealing or using drugs in our city will be held accountable. I want to thank our hard-working officers as well as our local state and federal partners for their assistance in this effort.”

These efforts expand upon the U.S. Attorney’s Office-led “All Hands on Deck” law enforcement initiative to address endemic drug dealing in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, in particular of fentanyl. Since its inception, the initiative has resulted in approximately 191 federal drug prosecutions and 158 convictions.

Among the defendants prosecuted in connection with the All Hands on Deck initiative was Gustavo Erazo, who was sentenced on December 10, 2025, to 60 months of imprisonment for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)-(B). The case arose out of a larger investigation into individuals traveling from the East Bay into the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco to deal drugs. Law enforcement seized 15 pounds of fentanyl as a result, along with two firearms and over $50,000 in U.S. currency. Erazo was extradited in December 2024 from Honduras to face charges.

The recent increased operations involved coordination among the U.S. Attorney’s Office, DEA, FBI, ATF, IRS Criminal Investigations, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, the San Francisco Police Department, and California Highway Patrol. Additional operations are planned in the coming months.

Many of the recently charged federal cases involve large quantities of drugs and carry potential mandatory minimum sentences for the offenders under federal drug statutes. Examples include:

• Rodrigo Parra-Lara was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 12, 2025, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B). Law enforcement seized around 2.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, two firearms and ammunition, along with over $14,000 in U.S. currency. The case stemmed from a larger investigation, with arrests in San Francisco and Oakland, of a Bay Area drug-trafficking organization with connections to the Sinaloa Cartel.
• Javier Velasquez Antunes was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 12, 2025, on charges of distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) and for being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). Antunes, along with two other individuals, allegedly trafficked drugs out of a vehicle while in possession of firearms and ammunition in the Mission neighborhood of San Francisco.
• Duc Pham was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 2, 2025, on charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)-(C). The case involved multi-ounce purchases over a six-month period in the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco.

A criminal complaint or indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: DOJ Release