Albuquerque DEA Targets Opioid Trafficking, New Mexico 2024

ALBUQUERQUE – The streets of Albuquerque are now ground zero in a new federal offensive. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) today announced the city has been selected as the seventh pilot location for its “360 Strategy,” a full-scale assault on the heroin and prescription opioid epidemic choking the city and fueling a surge in related crime. The announcement, delivered at a press conference held at the Boys and Girls Club of New Mexico, signals a deepening commitment to tackling the crisis, but it won’t be a quick fix.

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Sean R. Waite of the DEA Albuquerque District Office led the announcement, flanked by a coalition of local and federal partners. Acting U.S. Attorney James D. Tierney, Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Larson of the UNM Health Sciences Center – key figures in the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative – Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, City Councilor Diane Gibson, Executive Director Jennifer Weiss-Burke of Healing Addiction in our Community, and other stakeholders all stood as witnesses to the launch. This isn’t just a DEA operation; it’s a multi-agency push.

“This comprehensive strategy leverages and expands existing federal, state and local partnerships, including the HOPE Initiative, to address New Mexico’s opioid epidemic on several different fronts – law enforcement, prescription drug control, drug education, prevention and treatment,” Waite stated. The “360 Strategy,” first deployed in Pittsburgh, Penn. in November 2015, isn’t about simply arresting street-level dealers. It’s a three-pronged approach designed to dismantle the entire system, from the source to the user.

The first prong is classic DEA: hard-nosed enforcement targeting drug trafficking organizations at all levels. In Albuquerque, this means doubling down on existing partnerships with local law enforcement to cut off the supply. But the DEA acknowledges that arrests alone won’t solve the problem. The second component focuses on healthcare providers – doctors, pharmacists, and other medical professionals – aiming to curb the over-prescription of opioids. A chilling statistic underscores the urgency: 80% of new heroin users started with prescription painkillers, and over 35,000 Americans die annually from heroin or opioid overdoses. The goal is to prevent pharmaceutical drug diversion at the source.

The third, and perhaps most ambitious, component seeks to build long-term, sustainable solutions through community engagement. The DEA plans to establish a “community alliance” encompassing law enforcement, treatment advocates, the judicial system, educators, businesses, government officials, faith leaders, and media. This alliance will focus on drug education, prevention, and treatment – attempting to create a network of support that extends beyond law enforcement and healthcare. The hope is to empower communities to fight back against the epidemic from within.

While the DEA’s 360 Strategy represents a significant investment in Albuquerque, the city’s struggle with opioids is far from over. The epidemic has left a trail of broken lives and strained resources. Whether this new strategy can deliver lasting change remains to be seen, but for a city desperate for solutions, it’s a gamble worth taking. The DEA is promising a sustained, multi-faceted effort – the question is, will it be enough to turn the tide?

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