A man and woman have been charged with trafficking of a narcotic new to Alabama, according to Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin.

Ricky Lee Laxton age 26 and Samantha Mary Mooney age 20, both of Boaz, each are charged with one count of trafficking, two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, one count of first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana and one count of first-degree possession of salvia.

Etowah County Drug Task Force agents executed a search warrant Aug. 1 at a residence on Liberty Hill Road, Smith Institute community, and found two kilos of AB-Pinaca, a synthetic narcotic, along with two handguns.

The discovery of this type of synthetic narcotic is the first in the state; the drugs seized had a street value in excess of $100,000.

Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin talks more in depth about the drug –

Highly dangerous, AB-Pinaca is known to cause renal, lung and circulatory failure after using the drug just one time.

The 2 kilos that arrived at the residence on Liberty Hill Road was ordered from China and eventually would be sprayed with an acetone mixture. Individuals who use the narcotic experience a high that includes paranoia and hallucinations.

Agencies involved in the investigation include the Etowah County Drug Task Force, FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Alabama Beverage Control Division of Narcotics. The investigation was also worked with the cooperation of the United States Postal Service and Homeland Security Investigations.

Laxton and Mooney are both in the Etowah County Detention Center.