New Mexico Governor Seeks Criminal Probe of DEA Over 100,000s of Fentanyl Pills

3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 25

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham asked New Mexico’s attorney general to examine whether DEA agents violated state law by letting fentanyl shipments keep moving through the state from 2023 to 2025.
An AP investigation found agents allowed hundreds of thousands of pills to reach the streets while building cases against higher-level traffickers, including a 2023 delivery of 74,000 pills to an Albuquerque mobile home park.
The DEA has said the investigative decisions were lawful and consistent with Justice Department guidance, while former U.S. Attorney Alex Uballez said limited resources and a focus on larger organizations shaped the approach.
The scrutiny is widening: whistleblower David Howell met congressional staffers, Empower Oversight sought Senate Judiciary and inspector-general reviews, and Sen. Bernie Moreno called the allegations a major scandal.
The clash lands as fentanyl remains a severe threat in New Mexico, where overdose deaths rose 21% last year even as the nationwide total fell 14%.

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The Associated Press16h ago

New Mexico Governor Calls for Criminal Probe of DEA Over Fentanyl Shipments

Source New Mexico16h ago

New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham asks AG to investigate federal agents who let fentanyl cross into NM • Source New Mexico

Bay News 91d ago

New Mexico governor calls for criminal probe of DEA allowing fentanyl shipments to hit streets

13 Sources

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1.8 Million Fentanyl Pills: New Mexico Opens Criminal Investigation into DEA’s Controversial Drug Enforcement Tactics

Overview

In June 2026, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a state-level criminal investigation into the DEA, following years of advocating for more federal support and accountability in addressing the state's fentanyl crisis. The Governor criticized what she saw as prolonged federal inaction and potentially negligent tactics, stating that New Mexican lives should not be the federal government’s cost of doing business. This bold move reflects her commitment to exploring every possible avenue to protect her state, highlighting the escalating tension between state and federal authorities over the handling of the drug crisis.

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