U.S. Justice Department probes DEA fentanyl monitoring program

The U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General is conducting an internal investigation into a Biden‑era Drug Enforcement Administration operation that allegedly instructed agents to track, rather than seize, large shipments of fentanyl and methamphetamine moving from Arizona into New Mexico. A third whistleblower, a currently unnamed DEA special agent, filed a 20‑page complaint describing at least five deliveries between November 2022 and June 2023, each containing 50,000‑100,000 fentanyl pills and 20‑40 pounds of meth. When the courier was finally arrested in June 2023, agents recovered 7 kg of fentanyl and 19 kg of methamphetamine, quantities that could potentially kill hundreds of thousands of people.

The whistleblower alleges that the program was overseen by former U.S. Attorney Alex Uballez, who defended it as a means to gather intelligence and capture higher‑level traffickers. Earlier complaints from former DEA special agent David Howell and contractor Kevin Small raised concerns about the policy and reported retaliation by DEA officials. The ongoing probe examines whether the operation contributed to preventable deaths and whether federal prosecutors were aware of the strategy.

The investigation highlights tensions between law‑enforcement tactics aimed at intelligence gathering and the public‑health risks posed by allowing massive quantities of fentanyl to circulate in U.S. communities.