New Mexico officials are considering pursuing billions of dollars in civil damages following reports that U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents allowed shipments of fentanyl to reach communities severely affected by the opioid crisis. The practice, reportedly aimed at building larger criminal cases, occurred as overdose deaths surged in New Mexico, even as fentanyl fatalities declined nationally.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham addressed the issue at a news conference on Monday in Albuquerque, condemning the federal approach as a “stunning failure” and promising to bring her concerns directly to the White House and Congress. She called on federal agencies to ensure the strategy is halted in New Mexico and prevented elsewhere. “It’s disgusting and despicable,” the Democratic governor said, emphasizing the moral outrage stemming from the practice.

These revelations stem from an Associated Press investigation detailing how DEA agents from 2023 to 2025 monitored but did not seize fentanyl shipments, allegedly to bolster larger prosecutions. Current and former DEA personnel, including whistleblower David Howell, have criticized the approach for risking public safety and potentially violating Justice Department policies designed to protect communities.

The DEA initially denied the accusations but subsequently requested an independent inquiry by the Justice Department’s watchdog. The fentanyl shipments reportedly remained unseized amid the most lethal drug epidemic in U.S. history, even as the DEA highlighted the dangers of fentanyl in its “One Pill Can Kill” campaign.

In response, New Mexico’s attorney general has launched a criminal investigation to determine whether federal officials violated state laws by knowingly exposing residents to synthetic opioids. Governor Lujan Grisham pledged to prevent similar tactics from affecting other states, describing the situation as an immoral gamble tied to the pursuit of high-profile cases.

Local leaders have voiced strong disapproval as well. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller identified fentanyl as the city’s foremost challenge, contributing to crime, homelessness, and strained healthcare systems. “Using us in some sort of uninformed, undisciplined experiment that’s literally killing our people — that’s what this is,” Keller said, urging broad outrage throughout the state.

The incident has also drawn political attention. Former President Donald Trump linked the controversy to the current administration, alleging that the Biden Justice Department’s border policies contributed to the situation. In its response, the Justice Department reiterated that the conduct occurred during the Biden administration.

Whistleblower David Howell began raising concerns in 2023 but faced repercussions within the DEA. He continued to report incidents involving unseized fentanyl shipments as recently as last year. Notably, some of the largest shipments documented, including a haul of 1.8 million pills in March 2025, occurred early in what would be former President Trump’s second term, further complicating the political narrative.