Fentanyl Enforcement Operation – San Diego County
September 7, 2026 – San Diego County Sheriff’s Office officials report that in November 2025, Homeland Security 
Investigations (HSI) and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Fentanyl Abatement and Suppression Team (FAST) opened and led a multi-agency investigation targeting individuals distributing deadly and illicitly manufactured fentanyl within San Diego County.
On Thursday, September 3, as part of the investigation, Sheriff’s Deputies along with HSI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and San Diego Police Department (SDPD) participated in a criminal narcotics enforcement operation that ended with several arrests.
You can read the U.S. Attorney's Office news release on the results of the nearly year-long investigation here: Seventeen Charged in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation of Fentanyl Trafficking Network in San Diego.
"As the Sheriff, I stand committed to working with local, state, and federal law enforcement to keep our communities safe from the dangers of illicit fentanyl and other dangerous drugs," said San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez.
Since taking office in 2022, Sheriff Martinez has created a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach to combat the fentanyl crisis — one that combines:
- Enforcement to dismantle trafficking networks and remove deadly substances from our streets.
- Harm reduction, including widespread naloxone distribution and life-saving interventions.
- Education and prevention programs to inform families and empower communities
Sheriff Martinez's strategy, along with the invaluable work of Sheriff's FAST Deputies, has saved many lives and contributed to a significant decline in fentanyl-related deaths, locally and nationally. The Sheriff credits the collaborative nature of investigations with our law enforcement partners, as well as the support of local lawmakers, in helping make great strides in the fight against the fentanyl crisis.
"Regional partnerships matter and we remain committed to working together," said Sheriff Martinez.
A reminder: the September 3 criminal narcotics enforcement operation was not related to any federal immigration enforcement efforts.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to full compliance with California State Bill 54 (SB 54) and does not assist with immigration enforcement. To learn more about how our agency complies with SB 54, click here.
We continue to prioritize transparency and trust with our diverse communities and encourage the public to contact the Sheriff’s non-emergency line at (858) 868-3200 with questions about any Sheriff's operation/activity.
Media: for more information about the multi-agency investigation, contact the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Office
