A whistleblower alleges the DEA knowingly allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills into New Mexico, including Albuquerque, to secure larger drug-trafficking busts. Officials and the state's attorney general are launching investigations into the claims, which the DEA denies.
The DEA faces scrutiny after an AP investigation revealed agents allegedly allowed hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills into New Mexico communities (2023-2025) while building cases against drug trafficking networks. Critics cite public safety risks due to fentanyl's potency, while the DEA defends its actions as lawful intelligence gathering targeting major organizations.
Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin, is set to be dissolved and replaced by Knoa Pharma by week's end as a sweeping $50bn+ settlement resolving thousands of opioid lawsuits takes effect. A federal judge delivered the final criminal sentence Tuesday, clearing the way for the deal. The Sackler family, which owns Purdue, will pay up to $7bn over 15 years. The settlement comes as the opioid crisis has been linked to more than 900,000 US deaths since 1999. Many victims expressed frustration, arguing the sentence provides no real justice for individuals.
Relatives of opioid overdose victims reacted outside a US court after Purdue Pharma was sentenced over its role in the opioid crisis.
A judge is expected to sentence Purdue Pharma to forfeit $225 million to the Justice Department, clearing the way for a settlement of thousands of lawsuits over the opioid crisis. The penalty was agreed to in a 2020 plea deal where Purdue admitted to failing to prevent its painkillers from being diverted to the black market and paying doctors to prescribe opioids. The Sackler family, which owned Purdue, will pay up to $7 billion over 15 years under the settlement, though no family members were charged criminally. Some victims and families oppose the deal, arguing it falls short of justice for a crisis linked to 900,000 U.S. deaths since 1999.
