Counterdrug Task ForceCal Guard CDTF California Military Department Logo

Mission

The Counterdrug Task Force supports local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement agencies and community coalitions that have a counter-drug nexus as their primary purpose. CDTF’s support denies drug trafficking organizations the ability to conduct illegal drug operations within our state.

  • To request CDTF support, contact the Operations Section at: (916) 369-4933.
  • For open positions, check the CDTF Job Announcements.
  • When applying for CDTF open positions, check the CDTF Application Instructions.
  • For more information, contact the Human Resources Section at (916) 369-4905.

CDTF Analysts Logo

CDTF analysts embedded with partner agencies offer full-time support on cases with a drug nexus. Analysts provide strategic and tactical link analysis, financial analysis, document exploitation, and case construction. CDTF analysts are trained and certified on national systems as required by the agency.

CDTF Ground Tactical Logo

Ground tactical teams support ground reconnaissance and illegal narcotics suppression operations in both urban and rural environments. Teams conduct day and night operations in order to provide the agency with real-time information to enhance case development. Ground tactical personnel also host rural operations, land navigation, and tactical casualty combat care training courses for law enforcement agencies.

CDTF Civil Operations Logo

CDTF civil operations specialists work with the state High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) and community coalitions to support drug prevention efforts that reduce the damaging effects of substance misuse in California neighborhoods. Civil operations efforts include support to the D.A.R.E program, Red Ribbon Week, and the Drug-Free Communities program.

CDTF Aviation Logo

 

CDTF aviation teams support civil operations, air reconnaissance, and illegal narcotics suppression operations in both urban and rural environments. Teams conduct day and night operations in order to provide the agency with real-time information to enhance case development. Aviation assets include Army National Guard UH-72 Lakota helicopters, Air National Guard HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters, and the RC-26. 

CDTF Engineering Logo

CDTF engineers support U.S. Customs and Border Protection and other law enforcement agencies through infrastructure maintenance and road construction and repair. These projects are designed to decrease agent response time and increase safety.

CDTF Technical Communications Logo

CDTF communication technicians are embedded full-time with partner agencies and offer support on cases with a drug nexus. Technicians provide expert support utilizing a wide variety of information technology equipment.  CDTF technicians are nationally certified.

  • CDTF supported 176 federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies in FY19 during more than 375 missions.
  • In total, CDTF supported $2.5 billion in seizures of illegal drugs, weapons, property, and U.S. currency.
  • Drug seizures included:
    • Methamphetamine: 5,384 pounds with a street value of $24 million.
    • Heroin: 248 pounds with a street value of $4 million.
    • Illegal Marijuana: 109,721 pounds of processed and 1.6 million plants with a street value of $1.8 billion.
    • Cocaine: 52,616 pounds with a street value of $597 million. This is a 46% increase over cocaine seized in FY18.
    • Fentanyl: 132 pounds with a street value of $4.4 million. This is enough fentanyl to kill 29 million people.

In total, CDTF supported the seizure of illicit narcotics with a street value of $5.6 billion, the seizure of 2,117 firearms connected to drug trafficking, and the seizure of $98.5 million in illicit currency.

Drug Seizures Included:

    • Fentanyl: 7,982 pounds
    • Methamphetamine: 154,299 pounds
    • Heroin: 921 pounds
    • Cocaine: 42,307 pounds
    • Cannabis: 2.5 million pounds

Total Street Value of Drugs seized: $5,631,320,917.76

In FY24 CDTF partnered with 507 Statewide Community Initiatives, and civil operation program was able to impact 68,119 youths in 153 schools throughout California. These efforts included support to the D.A.R.E program, Red Ribbon Week, and the Drug-Free Communities program.

In total, CDTF supported in the seizure of illicit narcotics with a street value of $7.2 billion, the seizure of 3,005 firearms connected to drug trafficking, and the seizure of $163.6 million in illicit currency.

Drug Seizures Included:

    • Fentanyl: 7,108 pounds
    • Methamphetamine: 123,606 pounds
    • Heroin: 1,064 pounds
    • Cocaine: 97,541 pounds
    • Cannabis: 3.15 million pounds

Total Street Value of Drugs seized: $7,221,127,378.32

In FY25 CDTF partnered with 1004 Statewide Community Initiatives, and civil operation program was able to impact 112,201 youths in 200 schools throughout California. These efforts included support to the D.A.R.E program, Red Ribbon Week, and the Drug-Free Communities program.