The spread of powdered fentanyl through street drugs is worrying law enforcement officials, who warn it could lead to increased car crashes and overdoses.
The changing drug supply prompted Santa Fe and San Miguel counties to issue community warnings last week.
Capt. Brian Brandle II of the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said the problem has plagued the area for years. From heroin to counterfeit blue pills and now powdered fentanyl, law enforcement officers across the state say street drugs are shifting once again. Brandle said people who believe they are purchasing cocaine or methamphetamine may actually receive powdered fentanyl, which can spread rapidly upon entering a community.
Smaller drug dealers can obtain the substance and begin distributing it within hours, Brandle added.
Decline In Fentanyl Seizures Prompts Call For Reform
Meanwhile, New Mexico’s congressional delegation is demanding answers and calling for reforms following a decline in major fentanyl seizures. A whistleblower alleged that Albuquerque-based Drug Enforcement Administration agents chose not to seize at least 1.8 million pills between 2023 and 2025.
Back in 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice and the DEA rolled out what they called “Fentanyl Protocols.” The idea was simple: agents were directed to quickly seize or stop fentanyl from being distributed, as soon as possible, to keep communities safe.
However, the DOJ revised those protocols in 2024 to give law enforcement greater discretion, allowing agents to weigh public safety risks against “the benefits to be achieved through preserving the investigation.”
Lawmakers concluded their letter by requesting written documentation of every instance in which the DEA declined to seize fentanyl in local communities.
