Reps. Stansbury, Vasquez, Leger Fernández Investigate Federal Drug Enforcement Actions that Allowed Fentanyl on to New Mexico’s Streets

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-NM),, Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) sent a letter to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administrator Terrance Cole demanding answers about reports that federal agents and prosecutors knowingly allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to flood the streets of Albuquerque and other New Mexico communities. The practice, known as "walking," is an investigative tactic where law enforcement agencies, like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), deliberately allow illicit drugs to pass through supply chains and reach the streets. Rep. Stansbury and the New Mexico delegation pressed Administrator Cole for an immediate briefing on DEA policies and actions in New Mexico its actions with respect to the fentanyl crisis.

"New Mexicans are paying the price for a fentanyl epidemic that is tearing families apart and deserve answers. We are demanding answers as to whether federal agents knowingly allowed fentanyl to reach and harm our communities," said Rep. Melanie Stansbury. "The DEA's own message is clear: one pill can kill. At a time when overdose deaths continue to devastate our state and communities, the DEA should be focused on stopping these drugs before they reach our streets-period."

"Introducing high quantities of fentanyl into communities where drug abuse is prevalent is a highly dangerous and volatile approach," said Rep. Vasquez. "I'm demanding answers from the DEA to understand exactly how this operation went down, who approved it, and what results, if any, it yielded. Fentanyl is a highly lethal drug that should be treated as such, as our hardworking members of local law enforcement work every day to eradicate this toxic substance from our streets, homes, and neighborhoods."

"New Mexico families have lost too many loved ones because of fentanyl," said Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández. "Every pill that makes it into our communities puts lives at risk. The law enforcement technology and drug interdiction resources our delegation has supported for years are meant to stop fentanyl from reaching our families-not let it through. New Mexicans deserve answers."

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, even a small amount of fentanyl can provide a potentially lethal dose. Fentanyl is incredibly potent-about 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine-a deadly quantity is roughly equivalent in size to a few grains of salt.

New Mexico has now led the nation for two consecutive years in drug overdose deaths, and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show our state's overdose deaths rose nearly 23 percent over the past year while the national rate fell. Nonfatal suspected fentanyl overdoses treated in New Mexico emergency departments have reached their highest level since January 2023. These allegations also follow reports that DEA agents are being reassigned from drug trafficking cases to support the Administration's mass deportation agenda.

This letter follows reporting from the Albuquerque Journal that the Drug Enforcement Administration may have allowed fentanyl to leak into Albuquerque and New Mexico streets.

You can find the full letter here.

Congresswoman Stansbury hosted a press call on this topic with New Mexico Speaker of the House, Javier Martinez. You can watch a recording of the press call here.