YouTuber Nick Shirley posted a video on X alleging drug activity in California’s MacArthur park. “Welcome to a public park in California: – Taken over by drug addicts and dealers – Cartels control the surrounding area – People using fentanyl in the open – No police anywhere We don’t have to live like this,” he wrote.
Shirley also posted a clip showing the park where a group of people seem to be “doing all sorts of drugs.” The clip also included segments of news clips of previous drug trafficking busts.
Several X users responded to this post by criticizing California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Reports from last month claimed that more than a dozen people were arrested amid an anti-drug operation.
READ: YouTuber Nick Shirley testifies before Senate on widespread taxpayer fraud schemes (July 16, 2026)
According to LAPD Capt. Ben Fernandes, the arrests were for drinking in public, being under the influence of narcotics and having bulky items inside the park. In May, federal agents and Los Angeles police searched several locations in MacArthur Park, South LA and Calabasas as part of the narcotics investigation. DEA special agents led the effort to find people suspected of supplying illegal drugs and for evidence of drug trafficking in the area.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli called the operation the third phase of “Operation Free MacArthur Park” to address drug use and sales in the park. He described the first phase as dismantling the leadership of the 18th Street gang and the second phase as what happened in May when law enforcement targeted drug dealers and suppliers at MacArthur Park.
READ: ‘Where are the children?’: Independent Journalist Nick Shirley alleges ‘billion dollar’ fraud in California (March 19, 2026)
Shirley runs a self-titled YouTube channel with nearly two million subscribers where he documents field visits, interviews, and confrontations related to his reporting. He has covered subjects like childcare fraud allegations, homelessness, immigration, and public spending. His style typically involves direct questioning and real-time documentation, which he also shares across other social platforms like X. In addition to positive reactions, his content also drew backlash with some accusing him of exaggerating, and questioning his claims.
Earlier this month, Shirley told a Senate panel on Wednesday that systemic, multibillion-dollar fraud is draining American taxpayer programs while government officials look the other way. He testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, described his on-the-ground investigations into state-level assistance programs, including Medicaid, daycare services, and hospice care. Shirley argued that corruption has run rampant because of a lack of oversight, leaving everyday citizens to foot the bill.