DEA's alleged release of over 1 million fentanyl pills in New Mexico sparks whistleblower probe

A DEA special agent and whistleblower lawyer allege that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration allowed more than one million counterfeit fentanyl pills to reach the streets of New Mexico between 2023 and 2025. According to Special Agent David Howell and attorney Tristan Leavitt, DEA agents repeatedly monitored shipments but did not seize them, arguing that the strategy was meant to build larger cases against major traffickers. The whistleblower claims the Justice Department’s 2019 fentanyl guidance was ignored by the New Mexico U.S. Attorney’s Office, mirroring the earlier Fast‑and‑Furious scandal. The agents say the policy “poisoned our community to make cases.”

Federal prosecutors, represented by former U.S. Attorney Alex Uballez, contend the approach was lawful and aimed at catching “the bigger fish,” asserting that investigative decisions complied with DOJ guidelines. The DEA has issued a statement denying that it knowingly permitted fentanyl to flow to the public. Overdose deaths in New Mexico rose 21 % during the period, prompting calls for congressional and Inspector General investigations into the program’s public‑safety impact.