Police brief committee on rising narcotics activity; chiefs highlight methamphetamine seizures and undercover efforts

A San Antonio police representative briefed the Public Safety Committee on narcotics trends, saying city investigators have seen increasing narcotics activity in 2025 and describing large seizures and multi-agency undercover operations.

The presenter emphasized San Antonio’s proximity to cross-border trade routes and said methamphetamine accounted for an outsized portion of seized weight in the last year; the transcript records that methamphetamine represented a large share of seized narcotics and that a prior year’s seizures included notable quantities and at least one firearm. The presenter noted that fentanil, while smaller by weight, is more dangerous and often mixed with other drugs.

Police outlined investigative procedures: tips and intelligence lead to operations that can take days or longer to develop, and undercover units coordinate with state and federal partners. The presenter pointed attendees to community reporting tools, including an anonymous tips system (SA-tip) and the police department app, which can provide a 6-digit return code for reporters.

Councilmembers asked about timelines, staffing and the specialized training required for undercover and narcotics units; staff described multi-agency task forces and the need to maintain patrol capacity while supporting long-term investigations. Several councilmembers thanked officers for collaborative work on drug enforcement.

Next steps: Staff will provide additional data on arrests and investigations if requested, and the committee adjourned at 4:00 p.m.