New Mexico AG launches criminal investigation into DEA over allegations agents let fentanyl flood state

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez connected Friday announced a transgression probe into allegations that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) knowingly allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to scope New Mexico communities portion agents pursued larger transgression investigations.

The enquiry comes days aft The Associated Press reported that DEA agents repeatedly monitored—but did not seize—large fentanyl shipments betwixt 2023 and 2025 portion attempting to physique broader transgression cases.

Torrez said the probe volition analyse imaginable ineligible remedies, including transgression prosecution, civilian litigation and structural reforms intended to forestall akin behaviour by DEA agents successful the future.

"The families who person mislaid children, siblings, and parents to fentanyl merit the information astir what the national authorities knew and what it failed to do," Torrez said successful a statement.

'ILLICIT' VERSION OF FENTANYL LINKED TO DEADLY NEW MEXICO INCIDENT THAT SICKENED FIRST RESPONDERS

Photo released by the DEA shows fentanyl pills seized successful New Mexico connected April 28, 2025, arsenic the bureau faces scrutiny implicit allegations it allowed different shipments to scope the streets. (DEA via AP)

"If the DEA stood by portion poison flooded our communities, that is not a bureaucratic failure," helium continued. "It is simply a betrayal of the radical it was sworn to protect."

Torrez said his bureau "will prosecute each ineligible avenue disposable to clasp the liable parties accountable and marque definite this ne'er happens again."

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called for the probe earlier this week, saying she was "appalled" by allegations that national agents knowingly allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to scope communities crossed the state.

NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYED TO BLUE CITY OVERRUN WITH JUVENILE CRIME, FENTANYL IS 'NOT ENOUGH,' STATE GOP SAYS

New Mexico's lawyer wide has opened a transgression probe into allegations that DEA agents allowed ample fentanyl shipments to scope section communities portion pursuing larger transgression cases. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

"Make nary mistake: the DEA knew radical would dice if these pills made it into New Mexico communities, and the bureau fto it hap anyway," Grisham said. "The result: hundreds of New Mexican parents burying their kids. Hundreds of New Mexican kids increasing up without unchangeable parents. All portion the national authorities stood by."

Grisham besides pointed to allegations that DEA agents monitored the transportation of 74,000 fentanyl pills to a mobile location parkland successful Albuquerque without intervening.

COLORADO DRUG BUST UNCOVERS CARTEL-CONNECTED ILLEGAL ALIENS, APPROXIMATELY 130K FENTANYL PILLS

DEA Special Agent David Howell, who filed a whistleblower complaint, poses for a representation extracurricular the U.S. territory courthouse successful Albuquerque, N.M., connected Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

"Shockingly, the national authorities stood by portion monitoring shipments, tallying nonstop pill counts, and watching arsenic these deadly drugs deed the streets," she said.

Current and erstwhile DEA agents, including whistleblower David Howell, told the AP the agency's tactics gambled with nationalist information and whitethorn person violated Department of Justice guidelines.

While the DEA initially denied Howell's allegations successful a connection to the AP, the bureau aboriginal requested that the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General behaviour an autarkic review.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HALTS DEA'S RANDOM SEARCHES OF AIRPORT TRAVELERS AFTER REPORT FINDS 'SERIOUS CONCERNS'

Fentanyl pills seized by the DEA successful New Mexico connected April 28, 2025. New Mexico officials person since launched a transgression probe into allegations involving the agency's handling of abstracted fentanyl shipments. (DEA via AP)

"Should that reappraisal place areas of improvement, the DEA volition of people instrumentality changes to amended their practices," the Justice Department said successful a statement. "We invited a concern with Governor Lujan Grisham, arsenic good arsenic New Mexico authorities and section leaders, to combat the scourge of fentanyl and support her constituents safe."

The allegations stem from enforcement operations conducted during the deadliest cause epidemic successful U.S. history, adjacent arsenic the DEA promoted its "One Pill Can Kill" nationalist consciousness run informing that adjacent a tiny magnitude of fentanyl tin beryllium fatal.

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Fox News Digital has reached retired to the DEA for remark regarding the investigation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.