Key facts
- The DEA reportedly allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to be distributed in New Mexico.
- These events reportedly occurred between 2023 and 2025.
- The tactic was intended to build larger cases against traffickers.
- DEA agents reportedly monitored the fentanyl pills without seizing them.
- Whistleblower David Howell claims the agency gambled with public safety.
- Critics believe the tactic endangered public safety due to fentanyl's potency.
- The tactic may have violated Justice Department rules.
- An Associated Press investigation revealed these details.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reportedly permitted hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to reach the streets of New Mexico between 2023 and 2025. This strategy, aimed at monitoring and building larger cases against drug traffickers, has faced significant criticism. Agents and experts argue that this approach endangered public safety due to the extreme potency of fentanyl. Whistleblower David Howell specifically claims the agency gambled with public safety by allowing these shipments to be distributed.
The tactic involved DEA agents monitoring the fentanyl pills destined for New Mexico streets without seizing them. The intention was to allow the pills to move through the supply chain to identify and prosecute higher-level traffickers. However, critics contend that this method may have violated Justice Department rules and put communities at risk.