New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced a criminal investigation on Friday into allegations that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intentionally allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to circulate within New Mexico communities. This alleged conduct occurred while federal agents were reportedly pursuing broader criminal investigations.
The announcement follows reports published by The Associated Press indicating that from 2023 to 2025, DEA agents repeatedly observed significant fentanyl shipments without interdicting them. This strategy was reportedly part of efforts to construct more extensive criminal cases.
Attorney General Torrez stated that his investigation would explore various legal avenues, including potential criminal prosecution, civil litigation, and the implementation of structural reforms aimed at preventing similar actions 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 said 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."
Torrez further emphasized his office's commitment, stating they "will pursue every legal avenue available to hold the responsible parties accountable and make certain this never happens again."
State Officials Express Outrage
Earlier in the week, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham had called for this investigation, expressing her dismay over claims that federal agents knowingly permitted vast quantities 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 asserted. "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 an instance where DEA agents reportedly monitored 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 Claims and Federal Response
Current and former agents from the DEA, including a whistleblower identified as David Howell, reportedly informed The Associated Press that the agency's operational tactics jeopardized public safety and might have contravened Department of Justice guidelines.
Initially, the DEA issued a statement to The Associated Press denying Howell's assertions. However, the agency subsequently requested that the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General conduct an independent review of the matter.
The Justice Department commented on the situation, stating, "Should that review identify areas of improvement, the DEA will of course implement changes to better their practices." The department also expressed, "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."
These serious allegations emerge amidst the most severe drug epidemic in U.S. history, even as the DEA simultaneously promoted its "One Pill Can Kill" public awareness campaign, which warns of the lethal danger posed by even minimal amounts of fentanyl.