Loxley police, ABC seize $19.5 million in 'spice' ingredients

LOXLEY, Al.
Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board enforcement agents and Loxley police seized about $19.5 million in synthetic marijuana also known as “spice” after a local trucking company reported suspicious boxes in a shipment, according to a news release.
Local police notified the state agency to investigate, and officers found 4,360 pounds of raw substance used in the making of the drug. Authorities said the ingredients could have produced 1.9 million grams with a street value estimated at $10 per gram. The shipment also included some 200 boxes of materials like packaging, labels and sealer used in dispensing the substance.
Additional details of the spice bust were not available today.

On Oct. 14, Gov. Robert Bentley ordered that the chemically treated herbal substance be taken off shelves as a public health hazard. It has been sold legally under brand names such as ”Spice” and ”K2,” but Bentley said it is a dangerous drug blamed for overdoses and suicides.
State Health Officer Dr. Don Williamson declared the products illegal by classifying the chemical compounds as controlled substances. Retails sales and possession of the substance became illegal Oct. 24.
Officers said use of spice has increased in recent months with the synthetic material also called potpourri. Officers said the products mimic the effects of cocaine, LSD, MDMA, and/or methamphetamine. Users have reported impaired perception, reduced motor control, disorientation, extreme paranoia and violent episodes, according to officials. The long-term physical and psychological effects of use are unknown but potentially severe. These products have become increasingly popular, particularly among teens and young adults, and are sold at a variety of retail outlets, and over the Internet.
“This action demonstrates our commitment to keeping our state safe from these and other new and emerging drugs that have decimated families, ruined lives, and caused havoc in communities across the state,” said Capt. Hal Taylor of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. “These chemicals pose a direct and significant threat, regardless of how they are marketed; we will aggressively pursue those who attempt to manufacture and sale this product.”