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Justice Department Reviews DEA's 'Allowing Drugs to Walk' Tactic Amid Fentanyl Crisis

The Justice Department's internal watchdog is investigating the DEA's controversial strategy of permitting fentanyl shipments to reach the streets to build larger cases against drug traffickers.

The U.S. Department of Justice's internal watchdog has initiated a review of a contentious strategy employed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), known as "allowing drugs to walk." This tactic involves permitting significant quantities of fentanyl to reach the streets to build more substantial cases against drug traffickers. The review aims to assess whether this approach has compromised public safety and violated established protocols, particularly during the ongoing opioid crisis. The investigation follows an Associated Press report revealing that DEA agents in New Mexico monitored, but did not seize, major fentanyl shipments between 2023 and 2025. Whistleblower Agent David Howell and others allege that DEA officials knowingly allowed dangerous quantities of fentanyl to circulate, including a shipment of 74,000 pills in Albuquerque. The Inspector General's review will examine DEA’s fentanyl interdiction practices over the past two years and may expand to include other cities beyond New Mexico. Advocacy groups have expressed concern over the potential public safety risks associated with this strategy. They are calling for a return to the department’s 2017 policy, which prioritized the immediate interdiction of fentanyl shipments. New Mexico’s Attorney General is also investigating whether federal agents violated state law, as more DEA whistleblowers have surfaced accusing the agency of neglecting opportunities to seize hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills. The outcome of this review could lead to significant changes in DEA operational strategies and has the potential to influence national drug enforcement policies. Given the severity of the opioid crisis, the findings may prompt a reevaluation of tactics used to combat the distribution of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.

Why it matters

  • This investigation could lead to changes in DEA operational strategies, potentially affecting national drug enforcement policies.
  • The review may prompt a reevaluation of tactics used to combat the distribution of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
  • The findings could influence public safety measures and the effectiveness of drug interdiction efforts.

ℹ️ Researched and summarized from public reporting. Check the sources below.

Sources

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