A coordinated law enforcement operation in San Francisco led to the arrest of 86 individuals at Jefferson Square Park on Wednesday night. The large-scale raid, conducted by local and federal agencies, is part of the city’s intensified effort to crack down on open-air drug markets.
According to San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott, approximately three dozen of those arrested had outstanding warrants. He emphasized that this operation was just the beginning, with similar enforcement actions planned for the future.
The raid began at around 10:30 p.m. when authorities surrounded Jefferson Square Park to dismantle a well-known drug trafficking hub.
After nearly three hours, officers, sheriff’s deputies, and DEA agents had taken dozens into custody. While around 60 individuals were cited and released, others were transported to county jail due to outstanding felony warrants or possession of large quantities of narcotics.
Chief Scott described the raid as a significant effort to address the shifting drug trade. “It was a massive undertaking,” he stated. “You won’t see this every single day, but it will be a recurring strategy to deal with the displacement that has plagued our city.”
Jefferson Square Park, located in the Western Addition neighborhood, became a hotspot for drug activity after previous crackdowns in the Tenderloin and SoMa districts pushed dealers to new areas.
For years, residents and business owners have expressed frustration over the rise of open-air drug markets, which have contributed to increased crime and a decline in local businesses.
San Francisco Supervisor Stephen Sherill, whose district borders the park, explained that those jailed were either repeat offenders with felony warrants or individuals caught with significant amounts of narcotics.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins reinforced the city’s commitment to accountability, stating, “If incarceration is the necessary path, then we will take that course.”
The operation aligns with the agenda of San Francisco’s newly elected mayor, Daniel Lurie, who campaigned on addressing crime and drug-related issues to improve public safety. At the conclusion of the raid, Lurie delivered a firm warning: “If you are selling drugs in this city, we are coming after you.”
This aggressive approach follows a directive issued in January by SF Supervisor Matt Dorsey, calling for mass arrests of individuals involved in open-air drug markets.
Dorsey also proposed that drug users be placed in involuntary treatment and detox programs to combat addiction and reduce demand for illicit substances.
The city’s latest enforcement efforts signal a shift toward a more assertive stance on drug-related crime, aiming to restore safety to neighborhoods long plagued by illegal activity. With continued raids and stricter consequences for offenders, San Francisco officials hope to dismantle the networks fueling the city’s ongoing drug crisis.