Crackdown on Synthetic Drugs includes 10 alabama counties

Alabama law enforcement agencies made 38 arrests and seized more than 200 pounds of synthetic drugs in a 10-county raid Wednesday.  More than 35 federal, state and local agencies also seized 500,000 in cash and bank accounts and 19 guns as part of a national drug takedown led by the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The nationwide raid, called   In Alabama, agents targeted Madison, Morgan, Etowah, DeKalb, Shelby, Jefferson, Dallas, Lee, Montgomery and Houston counties. DEA Special Agent in Charge Keith Brown said what is being done in Alabama with Wednesdays raids and recent legislation that allows for prosecution of anyone dealing, making or using any variation of synthetic drugs needs to be replicated across the United States.  Officials were vague on how much of the dangerous synthetic drugs were seized as the investigation is continuing.  The DEA says most of the synthetic drugs are being made in China and are often sold by retailers  who are sending their profits back to the Middle East, possibly funding terrorist acts.  DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Clay Morris said 100-200 pounds of synthetic drugs were seized in one north Alabama storage unit.
Project Synergy, targeted manufacturers, retailers, distributors and wholesalers dealing in 250 synthetic designer drugs, commonly called spice.