Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded the Shelby County Commission nearly $140,000 to fight drug trafficking.
The money will be given to the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force.
The task force performs undercover operations to bust meth labs, and helps investigate violent crimes.
The unit includes authorities from four law enforcement agencies and a prosecutor from the Shelby County District Attorney's Office.
Officials are particularly concerned about heroin trafficking in the county.
The website reports at least 15 deaths in Shelby County were attributed to heroin in 2012.
Authorities say heroin-related deaths in Shelby County have risen since 2009.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.