The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to hit the streets of New Mexico between 2023 and 2025, according to current and former DEA agents and government records. This tactic, which involved monitoring shipments of fentanyl pills without seizing them, was part of a broader effort to gather intelligence and build cases against major drug traffickers.

Fentanyl Epidemic

The fentanyl epidemic has been the deadliest drug epidemic in American history, with overdose deaths surging over the past decade. The DEA has made ridding the streets of illicit fentanyl a top priority, but its methods have been questioned by some agents and experts. The DEA’s approach has included allowing drug transactions to be completed so agents can follow the narcotics through the supply chain, but this tactic has been criticized as a gamble with public safety.

Albuquerque, which has a neighborhood known as the “War Zone” due to its high levels of drug activity, has been at the epicenter of the fentanyl epidemic in New Mexico. While overdose deaths nationwide fell 14% last year, government data shows that New Mexico saw a 21% spike in overdose deaths.

Investigations and Seizures

The DEA has used “controlled deliveries” in which constant surveillance of the drugs is followed by a takedown to recover them. However, in some cases, the DEA had detailed intelligence about drug deliveries but did not seize the fentanyl pills. For example, in June 2023, agents watched a transaction at a mobile home park in Albuquerque and did not seize the 74,000 fentanyl pills that were delivered.

The DEA has said that the investigative decisions at issue were lawful and consistent with Department guidance. However, some agents and experts have questioned the tactic of allowing fentanyl to reach the streets, citing the risk to public safety and the potential violation of U.S. Justice Department rules.

Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.