MONTGOMERY – Gov. Bob Riley awarded a $200,000 grant to the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to support a task force battling the distribution, use and sale of illegal drugs throughout the state.

The grant is to help fund the ABC Enforcement Statewide Drug Task Force, which assists law enforcement agencies throughout Alabama in conducting drug investigations.

Riley said illegal drugs destroy lives and pose a serious threat to the safety of Alabama’s communities, so the task force should provide a valuable support to the law enforcement officers.

The task force also assists local agencies with drug investigations and undercover operations.

Various police departments in small towns are unable to perform extensive investigations due to budget restraints and a lack of training.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Justice.