Luján, N.M. Delegation Call on DOJ Inspector General to Expand Investigation into DEA Fentanyl Practices in New Mexico

NEW MEXICO – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) called on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to expand its recently announced review of federal fentanyl investigations to examine Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) practices dating back before 2024, with a specific focus on the DEA’s fentanyl practices in New Mexico. The Delegation’s request follows whistleblower complaints alleging that DEA agents allowed large quantities of fentanyl to reach New Mexico communities instead of seizing the drugs. On August 17 th , the DOJ OIG announced a review of federal fentanyl investigations, including cases where investigators allowed fentanyl shipments to continue rather than seizing them. In the letter, the lawmakers point to whistleblower allegations that raise concerns that DEA’s practice of allowing fentanyl to “walk” may extend further than the OIG’s current two-year review period. Additionally, the lawmakers call on the DOJ OIG to examine whether the DEA’s decisions led to increased overdose deaths throughout New Mexico. “One of the whistleblowers claims that the DEA surveilled a drug trafficker ‘who made repeated deliveries of fentanyl from Phoenix to Albuquerque between 2022 and 2023.’ There is reason to suspect that the DEA’s policies of allowing fentanyl to ‘walk’ stretches back before 2023. For that reason, we believe the OIG should expand its scope of review.” wrote the lawmakers . “The people of New Mexico deserve answers as to why the agency charged with seizing drugs instead allowed deadly pills to flood their streets. We ask that the DOJ OIG conduct a full and thorough investigation to bring some measure of accountability to actions carried out by DEA,” continued the lawmakers . In July, the New Mexico Delegation demanded answers from U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Terrance Cole on why the DEA allowed large quantities of fentanyl to circulate unseized in New Mexico communities. The full text of the letter is available here and below: Dear Inspector General Berthiaume: We write regarding the Department of Justice’s Office of Inspector General’s (DOJ OIG) August 17, 2026’s announcement that it would review “investigations involving the trafficking of substances containing fentanyl… when federal investigators have knowledge, specific information, or probable cause to believe that fentanyl will be transported or distributed to or from, or stored at, a specified identifiable location.” While we are pleased to see OIG initiate this investigation we ask that the Office expand the scope of its review to investigations before 2024 with a specific focus on investigations undertaken by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) within New Mexico. As you know, current and former DEA agents filed whistleblower complaints alleging that agents within the Agency allowed drug traffickers to deliver hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills onto the streets of New Mexico. One of the whistleblowers claims that the DEA surveilled a drug trafficker “who made repeated deliveries of fentanyl from Phoenix to Albuquerque between 2022 and 2023.” There is reason to suspect that the DEA’s policies of allowing fentanyl to “walk” stretches back before 2023. For that reason, we believe the OIG should expand its scope of review. Sadly, New Mexico remains a hotbed of fentanyl trafficking and overdose deaths. Federal data show that overdose deaths fell throughout the country in 2025, yet, in New Mexico deaths rose by 21 percent. This increase correlates with the time period during which the DEA’s allowed traffickers to flood the streets with deadly fentanyl pills. Thus, we ask that the OIG examine whether the DEA’s decisions led to increased overdose deaths throughout the state. The people of New Mexico deserve answers as to why the agency charged with seizing drugs instead allowed deadly pills to flood their streets. We ask that the DOJ OIG conduct a full and thorough investigation to bring some measure of accountability to actions carried out by DEA. Thank you in advance for your consideration. Sincerely, ###