“Fentanyl walking” is current slang for the law enforcement policy of allowing shipments of drugs to cross the border from Mexico into the US without interference. The rationale is that traffickers are encouraged to attempt larger and larger shipments to the US, in the mistaken belief that the authorities won’t intervene. This results in truly huge seizures, and more important arrests.
Yes, it’s controversial. The general public operates on the assumption that law enforcement attempts to interrupt every shipment of fentanyl, large and small, so as to prevent more unnecessary deaths on American streets. “That’s what my taxes are supposed to be paying for,” complained a citizen when interviewed. If they’re not, he wanted to know the reason.
He’s not alone. It’s especially an issue in New Mexico, where citizens recently discovered that vast quantities of the drug have been “walked“ into their home state, without their knowledge or approval..
We first discussed this in June, when the story hit the front pages. Now a Senator is providing us with additional information.
New Mexico U.S. Sen. Luján shares documents related to feds’ fentanyl operations in state
I get the impression that the possibility of collateral damage from the practice — I’m talking about a rash of overdose fatalities –– was not a primary concern for those who planned this operation.
Perhaps, as a former policeman explained to me long ago, “these people” were simply street addicts who were probably going to die from drugs anyway. “Maybe we’re just hurrying things along a little,” he allowed.
In particular, the new documents address the authorities’ response when the whistleblower within DEA first brought the problem to their attention. Apparently, their review found no evidence of misconduct on the part of the DEA.
“Prosecutors and investigators need to have the flexibility to choose the operational approaches they have concluded are the most effective in combating drug trafficking throughout the country,” Special Counsel Charlis Baldis wrote on Sept. 4, 2025. “I have concluded that the agency’s approach to these matters is correct.”
I wonder how many New Mexicans would agree.
