New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has launched a criminal inquiry into allegations that the Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration allowed large quantities of fentanyl to enter state communities while pursuing other investigations.
The investigation focuses on a period from 2023 to 2025 when DEA agents reportedly monitored, but did not seize, significant fentanyl shipments. The agency’s actions would have enabled the drugs to circulate in local markets.
Torrez emphasized that families who lost loved ones to fentanyl deserve clarity about the federal agency’s knowledge and conduct. He said the inquiry will explore criminal prosecution, civil suits, and structural reforms to prevent future failures.
State Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham called the allegations “appalling” and cited a case involving 74,000 pills delivered to a mobile‑home park in Albuquerque. She criticized the federal government for monitoring the shipment without intervention, claiming it contributed to widespread loss of life.
Former and current DEA agents, including whistleblower David Howell, have suggested that the agency’s tactics may have compromised public safety and violated Department of Justice guidelines. The claims stem from enforcement operations conducted during the country’s most lethal drug crisis.
Initially denying the allegations, the DEA later requested that the Office of the Inspector General conduct an independent review. The agency stated it would implement any recommended changes if the review identifies areas for improvement.
The Department of Justice highlighted its willingness to collaborate with state and local leaders to address fentanyl’s impact and to safeguard communities. It also referenced its “One Pill Can Kill” public awareness campaign, underscoring the drug’s deadly potency.
As the investigation progresses, authorities aim to hold responsible parties accountable and to ensure that such conduct does not recur in the future.
