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SAPD reports rise in narcotics offenses as covert units seize large quantities of meth
Summary
Assistant Chief Jesse Salome told the Public Safety Committee that drug-and-narcotics offenses rose in 2025 and emphasized covert and multiagency enforcement. He cited a December seizure of 179 kilos of meth and said meth comprised the majority of weight seized in 2025; councilmembers asked for additional tip‑closure metrics.
Assistant Chief Jesse Salome presented a narcotics briefing to the Public Safety Committee, framing San Antonio as a distribution hub because of its proximity to the border and describing enforcement coordination with federal partners.
Salome said crimes against society rose about 16.7% in 2025, driven in part by a 21.9% increase in drug and narcotics offenses compared with 2024. He highlighted a long-term investigation in December in which "SAPD… and DEA task force officers seized 179 kilos of methamphetamine," and he said covert and task‑force operations last year recovered large quantities of drugs and weapons.
Salome reported aggregate narcotics seizures of 1,400,000 grams in 2025 (which he described as "over 3,000 pounds") and said methamphetamine accounted for roughly 73% of seized weight by mass. He cautioned that fentanyl, though a small portion of weight, is the most dangerous substance encountered because of its potency.
The assistant chief described the covert division and its prioritization process: approximately 125 personnel assigned to covert units (97 detectives, 10 officers, plus supervisors) who prioritize cases based on tips, hot-spot data and intelligence from partner units. Councilmembers asked for additional performance metrics, including how many anonymous tips lead to arrests or case closures; Salome agreed to follow up with more specific tracking information.
Salome reiterated reporting options for the public, including anonymous tips via SA‑Tip and the department’s online reporting tools.
