ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference Tuesday morning to highlight the state’s efforts to combat fentanyl and other illegal drugs.
During a news conference in Orlando, DeSantis said the efforts of the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication, also known as the S.A.F.E program, have led to 2,100 arrests and the seizure of 485 pounds of fentanyl and over 63,000 fentanyl pills.
“These results have made our communities safer. These results have saved the lives of many Floridians,” DeSantis.
Press play above to watch DeSantis’ remarks
In 2023, the Florida Legislature established state funding under the SAFE program to conduct investigations designed to combat illegal fentanyl activity.
“[The program] gives law enforcement funding needed to conduct large-scale drug interdiction operations across the state of Florida. This has allowed local law enforcement agencies to effectively fight against drug trafficking and to get hundreds of pounds of deadly drugs off the street,” DeSantis said.
According to DeSantis, earlier this month, FDLE agents in Orlando, Jacksonville and Fort Myers arrested multiple suspects that were part of a drug trafficking ring connected to a Mexican drug cartel, which operated in four different states.
DeSantis also highlighted the results of a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office operation earlier this year dubbed “Operation Jacob’s Ladder,” which led to 10 arrests and the seizure of large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine and other drugs.
“Cartel presence in Florida is significant because for years, the cartels have been known to be the Mexican drug cartels operating in the Sunshine State, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels, and they’re both currently at war with each other,” DeSantis.
DeSantis said last year he recommended an additional $20 million to fund the SAFE program, but the Legislature ended up funding $13 million.
The governor added that he will be recommending additional funding for this program when he rolls out his budget later this year.