House Republicans launch investigation into DEA tactic that allowed fentanyl to hit streets
Summary
House Republicans have started an investigation into a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) strategy that let large amounts of fentanyl reach communities while building drug cases. The DEA allowed fentanyl shipments to pass without seizing them, and this approach has raised concerns and led to legal actions in New Mexico.Key Facts
- House Oversight Committee Republicans are investigating the DEA’s method of monitoring but not seizing fentanyl shipments.
- Rep. James Comer sent a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche asking for records about this DEA tactic.
- DEA whistleblowers in New Mexico reported being told not to seize large fentanyl shipments, possibly breaking Justice Department rules.
- New Mexico’s attorney general sued the Justice Department to get some of the same records.
- The DEA’s earlier 2017 policy required seizing fentanyl shipments quickly, but this was changed in 2024 to give agents more choice in stopping shipments.
- The strategy of letting drugs "walk" continued into President Trump’s second term and preceded the largest fentanyl bust in DEA history in May 2025.
- Despite a campaign warning that fentanyl is deadly, large fentanyl shipments were allowed to reach streets, contributing to the ongoing drug epidemic.
- The Biden administration’s changes to fentanyl policies are a focus of the investigation, contrasting with protocols from President Trump’s first term.
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