New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is demanding the federal government provide reparations, accusing the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of allowing millions of fentanyl pills to flood the state during an undercover operation without notifying state or local officials. Lujan Grisham described the alleged operation as "the most derelict, despicable act in my long career," stating that the fallout has forced New Mexico to allocate over $1.5 billion towards law enforcement, behavioral health, addiction treatment, and other public safety initiatives.
During a press conference, Lujan Grisham stated that the DEA "stood silently by and watched thousands of fentanyl pills get distributed with no arrests, no evidence, no notice that we know of anywhere else." She asserted that "someone must pay for the damage to this state, the public safety risks that will be shared by everyone here for a decade." The governor is seeking reimbursement from the federal government for the state's expenditures in combating the fentanyl epidemic, including costs for law enforcement operations, behavioral health services, addiction treatment, and overdose prevention.
Lujan Grisham also called on Congress to prevent similar DEA operations in the future, require full federal funding for costs imposed on states by such operations, and hold involved officials personally accountable. She has stated that her administration has previously sought increased federal resources and cooperation from both the Biden and Trump administrations to address New Mexico's fentanyl crisis, but these requests have reportedly gone unanswered. She mentioned multiple meetings, letters, and requests for additional agents and resources that were met with "remarkably silent" responses.
Her remarks followed an announcement by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez that a criminal investigation has been launched into allegations that the DEA knowingly permitted hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to reach New Mexico communities while pursuing larger criminal investigations. The Associated Press reported that DEA agents allegedly monitored, but did not seize, significant fentanyl shipments between 2023 and 2025 as part of their broader investigative efforts.
Torrez indicated that his office will examine potential legal remedies, including criminal prosecution, civil litigation, and structural reforms to prevent similar conduct by DEA agents in the future. He stated, "The families who have lost children, siblings, and parents to fentanyl deserve the truth about what the federal government knew and what it failed to do." Torrez characterized the alleged inaction as a "betrayal of the people it was sworn to protect" and vowed to "pursue every legal avenue available to hold the responsible parties accountable and make certain this never happens again."
Lujan Grisham echoed the call for accountability, emphasizing that individuals who approved or oversaw the operation and allowed it to continue without notification should face consequences. She expressed anger and outrage, stating that those responsible should be held accountable for the long-term impact on combating addiction and fentanyl overdose deaths in the state. The DEA has been contacted for comment on the matter.