DEA Under Investigation for Fentanyl Shipments in New Mexico
On Friday, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torres announced that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will face a criminal investigation. This probe will look into claims that the agency allowed a significant number of fentanyl pills to enter communities in New Mexico while it was engaged in a large-scale criminal investigation.
This move comes shortly after a report from The Associated Press revealed that DEA agents were aware of substantial shipments of fentanyl from 2023 to 2025 but chose not to seize them. Instead, they focused on building a broader criminal case.
Torres mentioned that the investigation could lead to various legal actions, including criminal charges or civil lawsuits. He aims to implement structural changes to prevent future occurrences of this nature.
“Families devastated by fentanyl-related losses have a right to the truth about what the government was aware of and what it did or did not do,” Torres stated.
Recent Incident Involves Fentanyl and First Responders
Torres continued, emphasizing that the DEA’s inaction as dangerous substances infiltrated communities represents a profound betrayal of public trust.
The Attorney General committed to exploring every legal option to hold responsible parties accountable and to ensure that similar situations are avoided in the future.
Earlier this week, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham voiced her outrage over the allegations, stating that it was shocking to learn that federal agents allowed thousands of fentanyl pills to be distributed across the state.
Concerns Over Youth Crime and Fentanyl Distribution
Grisham asserted that the DEA’s knowledge of the drugs’ distribution—and their decision not to intervene—has resulted in tragic consequences for many families. “It is essential to recognize that the federal government knew this could lead to death, yet it allowed it to happen,” she expressed.
Additionally, she highlighted that authorities had supervision over a delivery involving 74,000 fentanyl pills directed to an Albuquerque mobile home park without taking any action.
Escalating Drug Crisis in New Mexico
Comments from current and former DEA officials—including whistleblower David Howell—have further fueled concerns that the agency’s approach endangered public safety and may have violated Justice Department regulations. Howell indicated that the DEA monitored shipments and accurately tracked drug counts while choosing not to intervene.
The DEA initially challenged Howell’s assertions but later invited the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General to conduct an independent examination into the agency’s actions.
Government Response to the Rising Drug Epidemic
The Justice Department remarked that if the investigation uncovers areas needing improvement, the DEA would take the necessary steps to enhance its operations. They expressed support for collaboration with local leaders to address the ongoing fentanyl crisis.
These allegations arise amid an intense effort to combat what some describe as the worst drug epidemic in U.S. history, despite the DEA’s ongoing public awareness campaigns stressing the lethality of even small amounts of fentanyl.
