23 arrested in suspected drug dealing at U.N. Plaza
San Francisco police officers arrested 23 people last week for suspected drug-related activities while doing nighttime surveillance around the city’s U.N. Plaza, spokespersons said Monday.
The most recent arrests were made on Feb. 7 and 9 and are part of consistent nighttime operations the department has rolled out to intensify drug enforcement in the Mid-Market area.
“Open-air drug markets will not be tolerated in San Francisco,” said Police Chief Bill Scott. “We are making progress in combating this problem, and we are committed to sustaining the effort.”
Since May 2023, more than 2,351 people have been arrested for possession with the intent to sell, public drug use and for outstanding warrant charges, spokespersons said.
During that period, officials have so far seized 135 kilos of narcotics — more than half of it fentanyl, officials said.
The city has also attempted to tamp down on drug dealing and illegal vending at U.N. Plaza by transforming it into a destination for skateboarders, fitness enthusiasts and people to play games. The city’s Recreation and Park Department spearheaded the $2 million project.
San Francisco police officers have also been working with the city’s public works and public health departments to get ahead of illegal vending in the area, officials said.
Last week, San Francisco Public Works crews issued seven notices of violation, impounded seven sets of goods, removed 11 sets of abandoned items from public right of way, and issued 287 verbal warnings, officials said.
In 2023, the district attorney’s office was presented with — and filed — the most felony narcotics cases it has seen since 2018, officials said. Nearly 1,000 cases were presented and 867 cases were filed.
This year so far, the district attorney’s office has filed 79 felony narcotics cases.
“Effectively shutting down open-air drug markets will continue to be law enforcement’s NorthStar,” wrote District Attorney Brooke Jenkins on X, the website formerly known as Twitter.