Justice Department watchdog to review DEA tactic that permitted deadly fentanyl to hit streets
The review follows an AP investigation and whistleblower complaints that agents let shipments of up to 350,000 fentanyl pills go unseized.
- Justice Department Inspector General Don Berthiaume announced a review on Monday of controversial DEA tactics in which federal agents allegedly allowed fentanyl shipments to reach streets to build larger criminal cases against drug traffickers.
- The strategy, known as allowing drugs to "walk," follows an Associated Press investigation detailing unseized fentanyl shipments in New Mexico between 2023 and 2025. Current and former agents said the practice "amounts to a gamble with public safety."
- Agent David Howell and other whistleblowers allege agents failed to seize 350,000 fentanyl pills in a 2024 wiretap and 74,000 pills in an Albuquerque mobile home park despite knowing of deliveries. Court records show agents allowed trafficking to continue for months.
- New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is investigating whether DEA agents violated state law, writing that the state is "bearing the societal and financial harms" of the influx. Federal officials have refused to allow Howell to be interviewed by state authorities.
- DEA Administrator Terry Cole requested a narrower inquiry into his agency's handling of whistleblower complaints. The inspector general's review will focus on Justice Department actions over the past two years to determine whether similar drug shipments occurred in other cities.
70 Articles
70 Articles
DEA Let Fentanyl Hit the Streets to Build Bigger Cases: DOJ Investigates How Far the Tactic Spread
The Justice Department's watchdog is investigating how widely Drug Enforcement Administration agents allowed fentanyl shipments to reach U.S. streets rather than seizing them, a controversial tactic intended to protect larger investigations and identify higher-level drug traffickers.
4 Investigates: Feds to take a new look at DEA Fentanyl Fallout in New Mexico
The U.S. Justice Department Office of the Inspector General announced Monday they're going to look into the Drug Enforcement Administration's policies and actions nationwide regarding fentanyl investigations – with a specific focus on New Mexico. The post 4 Investigates: Feds to take a new look at DEA Fentanyl Fallout in New Mexico appeared first on KOB 4.
DOJ Inspector General Opens Review Into DEA Fentanyl Operations
The Justice Department's inspector general has opened a review into a controversial Drug Enforcement Administration tactic that allegedly allowed fentanyl shipments to reach communities while agents built larger cases against drug-trafficking organisations. 💡According to the report, Inspector General Don Berthiaume announced the inquiry after an investigation raised concerns about the potential public safety consequences of allowing drugs to "w…
US watchdog probes DEA over fentanyl shipments allowed to reach streets
The Justice Department's inspector general has opened a review into DEA cases where fentanyl deliveries were allowed to continue. The inquiry sharpens questions over public safety risks, whistleblower claims and possible rule breaches.
Inspector general to probe DOJ over allegation department knowingly allowed fentanyl trafficking
The Justice Department's inspector general announced a new probe Monday to investigate allegations that DOJ knowingly allowed fentanyl to be bought and sold, as agents tried to bring a lengthy trafficking case to a close.
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