New Mexico’s Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, is seeking compensation from the federal government, citing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for enabling millions of fentanyl pills to enter her state during an undercover operation without informing state and local officials.
She labeled the alleged operation as “the most derelict and despicable act” of her career and mentioned it has cost New Mexico over $1.5 billion in law enforcement, behavioral health care, addiction treatment, and various public safety initiatives, all while the state grapples with a surge in overdose deaths and addiction crises.
At a press conference, Lujan Grisham stated, “The DEA sat idly by while thousands of fentanyl pills were distributed, without any arrests or notifications.” She emphasized that “someone has to pay” for the damage and the ongoing public safety risks that could last a decade.
The governor is urging for federal reimbursements to help cover the costs incurred while fighting the fentanyl crisis, including various public safety efforts and health services.
In addition, she is pressing Congress to prohibit similar DEA operations in the future, ensure that the federal government bears the full financial burden for such efforts, and hold accountable those officials involved.
“We’ve had to do this three times since 2019,” she noted. “And I believe this time has been the most destructive.”
Lujan Grisham drew comparisons to previous federal missteps that have adversely affected New Mexico, such as the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the U.S. Forest Service’s prescribed burns, which led to significant wildfires. She argued that like those incidents, the DEA should also be held accountable.
Her administration has frequently requested more federal resources, including additional DEA agents and enhanced cooperation in addressing the fentanyl crisis, but without any substantial response from either the Biden or Trump administrations.
“We have consistently reached out to both administrations for help with public safety in New Mexico,” she said, revealing that her office has made multiple requests and conducted several meetings, yet the responses have been lacking.
Furthermore, she urged for legislation that requires federal agencies to inform state and local authorities ahead of conducting similar operations, restore about $25 million in previous funding for behavioral health and public safety, and implement laws to prevent the use of the controversial DEA tactics in the future.
These statements followed the announcement of a criminal investigation by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torres regarding claims that the DEA knowingly allowed a significant number of fentanyl pills to reach communities while pursuing a broader investigation.
The Associated Press has previously reported that DEA agents observed, yet did not intervene with, major fentanyl shipments between 2023 and 2025 as they tried to establish a case against larger criminal networks.
Torres expressed that the investigation would explore possible legal actions, including criminal charges and civil lawsuits, aimed at stopping similar actions by future DEA personnel.
“Families who have lost loved ones to fentanyl deserve transparency about what the federal government was aware of and what actions were taken or not taken,” he asserted.
“This isn’t just a bureaucratic blunder; it’s a betrayal of the trust that should be kept by those meant to protect our communities,” he continued.
He vowed to pursue all possible legal routes to ensure accountability for the involved parties and to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
On Monday, Lujan Grisham echoed Torres’ call for accountability, insisting that those responsible for overseeing the operation should face consequences.
“We’ve found that this distribution went on without notifying anyone, and those who permitted it should be held accountable,” she remarked, adding, “I suspect many of those individuals are still working within the DEA.”
“I am very angry. This is unacceptable,” she concluded. “They must face accountability for the ongoing battle against addiction and fentanyl-related fatalities.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the DEA for a response regarding these claims.
