Austin Police Charge Three Dozen People With Intent To Distribute K2 Synthetic Drug

AUSTIN, TX — Police charged 36 people for distribution of the synthetic drug dubbed K2 to users downtown, law enforcement officials said Monday.

All told, ten people were arrested in connection to the distribution operation, five other were already in custody on unrelated charges and the rest are at still at large, police said during a press conference.

The charge assessed for each suspect is possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute,a first-degree felony punishable by up to 99 years in prison.

The K2 drug problem has become something of a scourge locally. The synthetic drug mimics the effects of marijuana, but in a much more potent manner. Last August, first responders were scrambling as ultimately more than 70 people were sickened by the drug in the downtown area almost simultaneously.

Watch the police news conference on the arrests below:

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