Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) directed the state National Guard and California Highway Patrol to help fight San Francisco's fentanyl trafficking crisis.

"Two truths can co-exist at the same time: San Francisco’s violent crime rate is below comparably sized cities like Jacksonville and Fort Worth — and there is also more we must do to address public safety concerns, especially the fentanyl crisis," Newsom said on Friday.

CBP SEIZES $21.1 MILLION WORTH OF FENTANYL DISGUISED AS GREEN BEANS

California will increase the law enforcement presence around the city to tackle crimes linked to the problem of fentanyl in hopes of reducing the epidemic of drug overdoses.

"Our Police Department and District Attorney have been partnering to tackle this issue and increase enforcement, but our local agencies can use more support," San Francisco Mayor London Breed said. "With the Governor’s leadership and clear direction, our state enforcement agencies can partner with us to make a difference for our residents, businesses, and workers who are living with the impacts every day."

On Wednesday, Newsom went to the epicenter of the drug and homelessness crisis by visiting San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood and spoke to city leaders.

San Francisco Public Defender Manohar Raju worries that "the people who are likely to be targeted by any forthcoming operations will be in low-income and Black and Brown communities, including those who have been trafficked or coerced into the drug trade under threat to themselves and their families."

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San Francisco's Chief Medical Examiner's recently reported more than 130 people died of a drug overdose in January and February combined, with roughly 650 dying of a drug overdose each year.