News Releases
The latest news and announcements from Mayor London N. Breed

SAN FRANCISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT INCREASES ENFORCEMENT AGAINST DRUG DEALING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Contact: Mayor’s Office of Communications, 415-554-6131

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SAN FRANCISCO POLICE DEPARTMENT INCREASES ENFORCEMENT AGAINST DRUG DEALING

158 arrests made in the last week as part of an ongoing effort to curb drug dealing and increase quality of life

San Francisco, CA—The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) has increased enforcement against drug dealing in the Tenderloin, Mid-Market, and South of Market areas as part of the SFPD’s efforts to curb the flow of dangerous drugs into San Francisco and Mayor London N. Breed’s campaign to keep the streets clean and safe for all San Franciscans.

This past week, officers from the Tenderloin Station, Southern Station, and the SFPD’s Narcotics units conducted drug sting operations in these targeted areas, resulting in 62 arrests for drug sale related offenses. In total, 158 arrests were made for offenses ranging from drug sales to stolen property and auto burglary.

“The police are cracking down on drug dealing because it is simply unacceptable that we have open air drug sales of increasingly dangerous substances like heroin and fentanyl in our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Breed. “These are some of the fastest growing areas for families and children in our City and yet I hear constantly from parents and residents who are fed up that drug dealers continue to return to their community and prey on vulnerable people. We will be continuing these efforts because everyone, regardless of which neighborhood they live in, deserves to live in an environment free from drug dealing.”

The SFPD is using a two-tiered strategy to reduce the sale of dangerous narcotics. The Narcotics Unit is focusing on disrupting the flow of drugs into the City and arresting individuals participating in drug trafficking and transportation. To date, they have seized over 125 pounds of narcotics and almost half a million dollars of drug money, in addition to guns and assault rifles. Street officers are simultaneously implementing sting operations and buy busts at the street level to reduce public drug sales.

“We are working strategically to address these crimes,” said SFPD Chief William Scott. “Our Tenderloin and Southern Stations, along with our Narcotics Unit are making a significant impact on these crimes.  Our priority is to make all communities in our City safe for everyone by addressing the criminal activity that puts so many people in harm’s way and impacts the quality of their lives.”

Since the beginning of the year, the SFPD has been focusing on disrupting drug dealing and addressing quality of life issues at UN Plaza and the adjacent Market Street corridor and Civic Center Plaza, which has resulted in 637 police bookings and citations. This week’s efforts are a continuation and expansion of this campaign and will continue into the future to increase quality of life and disrupt the sale of dangerous narcotics.

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