A veteran DEA agent alleges the agency allowed fentanyl shipments to circulate in New Mexico so investigators could build larger cases against traffickers, a claim that is now tied to mounting fentanyl-related emergencies in the state. The allegations center on a method often described as “drug walking,” in which narcotics remain in circulation while investigators track suspects.
CBS News reports that Albuquerque-area fentanyl-related incidents are rising, prompting Bernalillo County to declare a state of emergency. CBS also says New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit challenging federal authorities’ handling of suspected drug shipments. The whistleblower, identified as David Howell in the reporting, says he warned supervisors for years that the approach was endangering lives.
One cited example involves a 2023 case in which agents stopped a suspect’s vehicle containing thousands of fentanyl pills and other items, but the whistleblower claims prosecutors criticized the seizure for interfering with a broader investigation. Other sources repeat the core allegation that DEA leadership dismissed the agent’s warnings, while noting that the claims are not presented as confirmed policy or judicial findings.
