Governor Katie Hobbs of Arizona has announced progress in the state’s efforts to curb the cross-border trafficking of dangerous drugs, including fentanyl. Governor Hobbs said in a statement released by the Office of the Arizona Governor that since July 2024, Task Force SAFE, in partnership with the Arizona National Guard, has assisted in the seizure of more than 6 million fentanyl pills and more than 1,400 pounds of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, meth, and fentanyl powder. These activities are focused on Arizona’s ports of entry, where the task force provides assistance in a number of areas, such as rail inspection and secondary search and scan.
The program plays a significant role in the Governor’s Stopping Arizona’s Fentanyl Epidemic (SAFE) Initiative, a multi-pronged, multi-million dollar endeavor that targets drug trafficking and supports treatment and law enforcement. Governor Hobbs’ commitment to the cause goes even beyond, as he has allocated $5 million for veteran substance abuse treatment programs and $17 million for the Arizona Department of Public Safety to assist local law enforcement. Additionally, $1 million has been set aside to provide overdose reversal medications to first responders. Governor Hobbs said, “In Arizona, we are strengthening our border and making our communities safer.” Even though we’ve made great strides, we still have a long way to go before all Arizonans are safe from the dangers of drug-related addiction and criminality. According to a statement provided by the Office of the Arizona Governor, “I am thankful to the diligent men and women who have worked to protect Arizonans and stop the flow of dangerous drugs into our state, and I will do everything in my power to ensure that their success continues.”
Task Force SAFE is a component of the Arizona administration’s larger plan to tackle border security issues. This includes Operation SECURE from the previous year, which deployed Arizona State Troopers and the National Guard to assist border regions. In order to enhance collaboration between federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, the governor also established the Department of Homeland Security’s Border Coordination Office. Hobbs also signed legislation to fight fentanyl trafficking and provided more than $84 million to law enforcement in areas that border the border.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) highlighted the importance of their state-level relationships in support of federal efforts to address the opioid problem. Our success depends heavily on our partnerships, especially in Arizona. To keep Arizona residents safe, we are collaborating with the Arizona National Guard through Task Force SAFE and several other state and local law enforcement partners, said Troy A. Miller, CBP’s Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner. According to the Office of the Arizona Governor, Maj. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck of the Arizona National Guard emphasized the sustained dedication to border drug interdiction since 1989, recognizing the joint strengths of state and federal collaborations.
The campaign has had a resoundingly positive local reaction, and border towns are directly affected by these initiatives. Jorge Maldonado, Mayor of Nogales, thanked Governor Hobbs, the Arizona National Guard, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their cooperative efforts. “Our community has been affected by drugs crossing our border for a long time,” Mayor Maldonado stated, acknowledging the potential for Task Force SAFE’s efforts to save lives, according to the Office of the Arizona Governor.
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