MONTGOMERY, AL. — Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency are urging consumers, parents and young people to be aware of products that may contain kratom as state authorities continue enforcement efforts involving the substance.
Kratom is a controlled substance in Alabama, but state officials say products containing it are not always clearly labeled. According to ALEA, agents have encountered products marketed as beverages, shots and other products promoted for relaxation, energy or improved mood.
“Kratom is illegal in Alabama, but unfortunately, it is not that plain and simple,” Ivey said. “Our law enforcement folks continue identifying stores putting this illegal product on their shelves disguised as harmless drinks.”
Ivey encouraged parents and young people to remain aware of what they purchase, particularly products available at convenience stores and similar retailers.
“Just because it is sold on a gas station shelf, does not always mean it is safe,” Ivey said.
ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said the agency continues to encounter products sold under different names and in different types of packaging.
“We want Alabamians, especially parents and young people, to understand that these products may not always be what they appear to be,” Taylor said. “Something being sold over the counter at a gas station or vape shop should not automatically be considered safe.”
State enforcement efforts involving the products began following citizen complaints in 2025. ALEA and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office investigated potentially addictive products being sold at retail locations across Alabama.
Undercover purchases were made, and laboratory testing conducted by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences confirmed that some of the products contained mitragynine, a substance associated with kratom and classified as a controlled substance under Alabama law.
Additional complaints and laboratory testing involving newly branded products followed in early 2026.
In May, ALEA launched Operation Southern Shield, an enforcement initiative intended to identify and seize illegal kratom products and support possible criminal and civil enforcement actions.
According to ALEA, the operation resulted in 83 search warrants and the seizure of nearly 123,000 doses of illegal kratom products.
ALEA has continued investigating complaints since the operation began in coordination with the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, local law enforcement agencies and district attorneys’ offices.
The agency said several hundred additional bottles have been seized from retail locations across the state. Agents have also encountered businesses that removed previously identified products from their inventories.
Suspected products collected during investigations are submitted to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for laboratory testing. When additional products are confirmed to contain kratom, ALEA said the information is shared with law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and the Attorney General’s Office.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said retailers that continue selling illegal products could face criminal and civil enforcement.
“Alabama is not open for business to anyone selling these dangerous and illegal substances, however they’re labeled or packaged,” Marshall said.
Marshall said consumers, including minors, may not know what substances are contained in some of the products they purchase. He said retailers continuing to sell illegal products could face consequences including asset seizure and felony prosecution.
State officials said accessibility among younger consumers is one of their concerns. Products suspected of containing kratom may be available at gas stations, vape shops and other retail locations without clearly identifying the substance on their packaging.
Parents and guardians are being encouraged to discuss the issue with teenagers and college-age students, particularly products marketed as providing energy, relaxation or mood enhancement.
Officials also warn that kratom can be addictive and that products sold through unregulated channels may not provide reliable information about their ingredients, concentrations or contents. ALEA cautioned against combining such products with alcohol or other substances because of the potential for serious or unpredictable effects.
ALEA and its partner agencies said investigations and enforcement operations involving the possession, distribution and sale of illegal kratom products remain ongoing.
Residents who encounter products they believe may contain kratom or another illegal substance can report the information to local law enforcement or submit a consumer complaint through the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.
