DOJ Watchdog to Review DEA Fentanyl Interdiction Tactics

Why it matters locally: The review of DEA fentanyl interdiction tactics is highly relevant to Ohio due to the state's significant struggle with the opioid crisis and high rates of fentanyl-related deaths. Any changes or findings from this investigation could impact how fentanyl is intercepted before it reaches Ohio communities.

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WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice's internal watchdog will examine policies and wiretap investigations conducted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The review will specifically address situations in which the DEA may have obtained advance knowledge of fentanyl deliveries but chose not to interdict them. Investigators will assess circumstances where DEA personnel reportedly learned of fentanyl shipments before their occurrence. The inquiry will determine if the agency's decisions to allow these deliveries to proceed were consistent with established protocols aimed at securing larger prosecutions. The review seeks to understand the rationale and impact of these operational choices.