New Mexico Attorney General Launches Criminal Probe into DEA Practices
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced Friday the initiation of a criminal investigation into the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The inquiry centers on allegations that federal agents knowingly permitted hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to enter New Mexico communities while prioritizing the pursuit of larger criminal investigations.
This development follows recent reports detailing how DEA agents allegedly monitored, but did not seize, significant fentanyl shipments between 2023 and 2025. These actions were reportedly taken as part of efforts to build broader criminal cases.
Examining Potential Legal Recourse
Torrez stated that the investigation will thoroughly examine potential legal remedies. These could include criminal prosecution, civil litigation, and the implementation of structural reforms designed to prevent similar conduct by DEA agents in the future.
“The families who have lost children, siblings, and parents to fentanyl deserve the truth about what the federal government knew and what it failed to do,” Torrez declared in a statement. “If the DEA stood by while poison flooded our communities, that is not a bureaucratic failure. It is a betrayal of the people it was sworn to protect.”
The Attorney General’s office has committed to “pursue every legal avenue available to hold the responsible parties accountable and make certain this never happens again.”
Governor’s Outrage and Call for Action
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham had previously called for this investigation earlier in the week. She expressed being “appalled” by the allegations that federal agents may have knowingly allowed a substantial quantity of fentanyl pills to reach communities across the state.
“Make no mistake: the DEA knew people would die if these pills made it into New Mexico communities, and the agency let it happen anyway,” Governor Grisham stated. “The result: hundreds of New Mexican parents burying their kids. Hundreds of New Mexican kids growing up without stable parents. All while the federal government stood by.”
Governor Grisham also highlighted specific allegations, including reports that DEA agents observed the delivery of 74,000 fentanyl pills to a mobile home park in Albuquerque without intervening. “Shockingly, the federal government stood by while monitoring shipments, tallying exact pill counts, and watching as these deadly drugs hit the streets,” she added.
Whistleblower Accounts and DEA Response
Current and former DEA agents, including whistleblower David Howell, have reportedly informed the press that the agency’s tactics involved significant risks to public safety and potentially violated Department of Justice guidelines.
Initially, the DEA denied Howell’s allegations. However, the agency later requested that the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General conduct an independent review of the matter. A statement from the Justice Department indicated, “Should that review identify areas of improvement, the DEA will of course implement changes to better their practices.”
The Justice Department also expressed a desire for collaboration: “We welcome a partnership with Governor Lujan Grisham, as well as New Mexico state and local leaders, to fight the scourge of fentanyl and keep her constituents safe.”
Context of the Fentanyl Epidemic
These allegations emerge against the backdrop of the deadliest drug epidemic in U.S. history. The DEA has actively promoted its “One Pill Can Kill” public awareness campaign, which warns of the fatal potential of even small amounts of fentanyl, even as these enforcement tactics were reportedly employed.
