New Mexico AG Launches Criminal Probe into DEA’s Fentanyl Practices
New Mexico’s top law‑enforcement official, Attorney General Raúl Torrez, opened a criminal investigation on June 26, 2026 to determine whether the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) knowingly allowed massive quantities of fentanyl pills to reach the streets of Albuquerque. The probe stems from a series of allegations that DEA agents, between 2023 and 2025, repeatedly monitored large shipments of the synthetic opioid without seizing them, a tactic the agency claims was intended to build larger criminal cases.
Whistleblower David Howell, a former DEA agent, told the Associated Press that this approach amounted to a gamble with public safety and may have violated Justice Department rules designed to protect the public. According to the AG’s office, the investigation will focus on whether the federal agents broke state law, and will seek any relevant documents, emails, or internal memoranda that could reveal the agency’s decision‑making process.
Attorney General Torrez emphasized that “the families who have lost children, siblings and parents to this crisis deserve a full accounting of what the federal government knew, what it did and what it failed to do.” He warned that if the allegations prove accurate, the consequences for New Mexicans have been fatal, directly contributing to the state’s ranking among the hardest‑hit regions for fentanyl overdose deaths.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who earlier urged the inquiry, called the revelations “appalling” and demanded that any wrongdoing be addressed swiftly. The DEA initially denied the claims but later asked the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General to conduct an independent review, signaling a willingness to cooperate if procedural failures are identified.
Potential outcomes of the investigation include criminal prosecution of responsible agents, civil litigation against the DEA, and structural reforms aimed at preventing similar conduct in the future. The AG’s office also indicated it will explore broader legal remedies, underscoring the seriousness of the accusations.
As the nation’s deadliest drug epidemic continues, New Mexico’s stance illustrates a growing tension between state officials seeking accountability and federal agencies defending their investigative tactics. The outcome of this probe could set a precedent for how federal drug‑enforcement operations are conducted in communities already ravaged by opioid addiction.
