ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – Amid the deadliest drug epidemic in U.S. history, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to be distributed on the streets of New Mexico between 2023 and 2025. This troubling decision came to light through accounts from three current and former DEA agents, alongside government records reviewed by the Associated Press.
DEA agents actively monitored shipments of fentanyl pills but opted not to seize them, as federal prosecutors aimed to build larger cases against major traffickers of the synthetic opioid. The White House had designated fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction” in the previous year, intensifying the urgency to combat the crisis. However, this strategy of allowing drugs to circulate has raised serious concerns about public safety, especially in the Albuquerque area, which has seen a staggering 21% increase in overdose deaths, despite a 14% nationwide decline.
David Howell, a DEA Special Agent, expressed his dismay at this approach, stating, “We poisoned our community to make cases.” Howell's whistleblower complaints suggested that the DEA's inaction contributed to fatal overdoses. He asserted that the agency's decisions disregarded Justice Department guidelines designed to protect the public, further highlighting the potential risks posed by allowing these dangerous substances to reach communities.
The DEA has maintained that it cannot feasibly seize every shipment of illicit drugs. Nevertheless, many seasoned agents were shocked by the policy of permitting large quantities of counterfeit painkillers to enter the streets. Over the past decade, as overdose deaths surged, the priority for the DEA became to eliminate fentanyl, primarily manufactured in Mexican laboratories. Traditional tactics used against drugs like cocaine and heroin, such as completing transactions to track narcotics, collided with fentanyl's extreme lethality. The Justice Department had issued protocols encouraging agents to seize fentanyl whenever practical, underscoring the need for immediate action to enhance public safety.
In New Mexico, particularly in Albuquerque, known for neighborhoods severely affected by drugs nicknamed “War Zone,” fentanyl has wreaked havoc. The DEA’s claim of prioritizing larger traffickers was echoed by Alex Uballez, a former U.S. attorney in the region, who justified allowing some drugs to remain on the streets to gather intelligence against key trafficking organizations. He stated, “The bigger fish are worth catching,” suggesting that dismantling larger networks would ultimately save more lives over time.
Despite these justifications, the DEA faced criticism for its decision-making. The agency confirmed its investigative strategies were lawful and consistent with Department guidelines. However, they denied claims that they knowingly allowed fentanyl to reach the community, asserting that their actions were based on real-time surveillance targeting major trafficking organizations.
Howell’s whistleblower disclosures included accounts of agents monitoring drug deliveries while not intervening. One such occasion involved a documented delivery of 74,000 pills. In another case, agents recorded deliveries of 150,000 and 50,000 pills, but no action was taken to intercept the shipments. Howell has called this failure “outrageous,” emphasizing that countless lives were put at risk, while those pills flowed into the hands of traffickers.
Alongside veteran agents’ concerns, Howell highlighted the severe consequences of their inaction, including tragic overdose incidents, such as the death of a toddler from fentanyl exposure. His complaints triggered initial investigations by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which found a substantial likelihood of misconduct. Nevertheless, the Justice Department later deemed that the decisions made by the DEA were reasonable and did not pose a specific danger to public health.
The DEA’s internal guidelines regarding the seizing of drugs have evolved, reflecting the increased discretion afforded to agents in balancing public safety with operational objectives. Meanwhile, Howell has faced retaliation for his whistleblower actions, being placed on desk duty and having his testimony restricted, which have raised further concerns about the agency's treatment of those who speak out against its procedures.
