What a reporter found when uncovering why federal agents allowed a deadly drug to hit the streets

Key Points:

• An Associated Press investigation revealed that the DEA allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills to be distributed in New Mexico to build larger federal drug cases, raising public safety concerns.
• Whistleblower David Howell, a 19-year DEA veteran, filed a complaint alleging the agency violated Justice Department rules by permitting dangerous fentanyl shipments to proceed, sparking an internal investigation.
• The DEA defended its tactic of "walking" drugs to catch bigger dealers, arguing it ultimately saves more lives, while critics highlight fentanyl's extreme potency and lethality, making this approach highly risky.
• The Justice Department's internal review found the DEA's decisions reasonable and not posing specific public health dangers, but whistleblowers and some agents disagree, citing overlooked risks of widespread fentanyl distribution.
• The investigation underscores a significant gap between law enforcement practices and public knowledge, revealing the complexity and discretion involved in federal drug enforcement operations.