On Thursday (March 26), Governor Newsom announced that the California Highway Patrol (CHP) crackdown on criminal activities has achieved significant results in the past two years.
According to a press release from the Governor’s Office, the CHP task force working in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies has arrested 12,645 individuals, recovered 6,475 stolen vehicles, seized 568 illegal firearms, and confiscated over 2,549 pounds of drugs, including more than 50,110 grams of fentanyl (enough to produce approximately 25 million lethal doses).
Newsom stated that the state government has been promoting a regional collaboration model between state and local law enforcement agencies, focusing resources on areas with high crime rates, and conducting special operations in regions such as the Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Central Valley, Sacramento Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area to enhance public safety.
Newsom said, “It’s all about results. We are committed to combating repeat offenders, confiscating illegal firearms, and intercepting deadly drugs before they cause harm. These teams are making communities safer in a tangible and effective way, and we will continue to implement proven measures.”
Sean Duryee, the CHP Commissioner, stated, “Through the deployment of task forces statewide and close cooperation with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, we are continuously identifying, dismantling, and thwarting criminal activities. This unified strategy is yielding concrete results and enhancing community safety.”
The CHP has launched several high-impact operations statewide, including recovering stolen vehicles related to organized retail theft, intercepting large-scale drug trafficking, and seizing firearms associated with violent crimes.
In December 2025, the CHP collaborated with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies to launch “Operation Consequences,” a multi-agency joint operation conducted monthly to target major crimes.
In the latest operation in San Bernardino on March 20, state and local law enforcement officers executed 16 search warrants, arresting 63 serious crime suspects and 45 misdemeanor suspects, seized over 2 pounds of drugs (including suspected heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl), and confiscated 25 firearms, including 3 ghost guns.
On January 2, in Stockton, CHP stopped a speeding vehicle and discovered shell casings and three unregistered firearms inside. The driver and two passengers were arrested for illegal possession of firearms, with the driver also facing charges of driving under the influence, and all three were taken to the San Joaquin County Jail.
On January 29, CHP tracked and intercepted a black Nissan Altima involved in a Walnut City robbery case, seizing over $39,000 in cash. The occupants of the vehicle were subsequently turned over to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for further investigation.
On March 5, a CHP officer in Santa Ana conducted a traffic stop and, with the assistance of a K-9 unit, found 35 pounds of methamphetamine. The driver and passenger were arrested on suspicions of felony drug offenses.
On March 13, a CHP officer in Carlsbad stopped a vehicle on the northbound section of Interstate 5 (I-5) due to mechanical issues, and discovered 1 kilogram of fentanyl pills inside the car. The driver was arrested on felony drug charges.
On March 20, a CHP officer and K-9 unit in East Sacramento stopped a vehicle and seized nearly 9 pounds of cocaine. The driver was arrested on the spot and taken to Sacramento County Jail.
From November 25, 2025, to March 20, 2026, in San Diego and Orange Counties, CHP apprehended 35 individuals suspected of engaging in sex trafficking.
As these teams continue to expand, California is advancing a collaborative and data-driven public safety strategy, emphasizing crime prevention, law enforcement strengthening, and creating safer communities through interagency cooperation.
According to data compiled by the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), most types of crimes in California decreased in 2025 comparing to the previous year. Homicide cases decreased by approximately 18%, while robberies decreased by about 19%.
Moreover, almost all major cities providing data showed a downward trend in violent crimes, with significant decreases reported in cities like Oakland (around 25%) and San Francisco (about 21%).
Compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic), overall violent crime tracked by major city police departments in California decreased by roughly 12% in 2025, with robberies declining by about 29% and homicides decreasing by approximately 12%.
However, not all cities exhibited the same trend, with cities like Atlanta seeing an increase of about 17% in violent crime and a 27% increase in robberies. In El Paso and Omaha, homicide cases rose by around 25% and 37%, respectively.
Since 2019, California has allocated approximately $21 billion to combat crime, assist local governments in hiring law enforcement personnel, and enhance public safety. In 2023, the state government initiated the largest-ever investment plan to combat organized retail crime, resulting in about a 310% increase in proactive law enforcement actions and the statewide launch of multiple special operations.