Two travelers arriving from London allegedly packed nearly 850 pounds of khat into 12 suitcases before the massive haul was uncovered by customs officers at a Maryland airport.U.S.Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said the two U.S.
citizens from New York arrived at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Aug.13 and were referred for secondary inspection.During a subsequent baggage examination, officers discovered what appeared to be a large quantity of tea leaves, which later tested positive for khat, or Catha edulis, according to CBP.MEXICAN NATIONAL FACES FEDERAL CHARGES AFTER CBP FINDS $238K IN FENTANYL INSIDE ELECTRIC MOPEDCBP officers initially discovered what appeared to be a large quantity of tea leaves before testing identified the material as khat, authorities said.
(U.S.Customs and Border Protection)Authorities said each traveler had six soft-sided suitcases filled with khat.
The seized material weighed approximately 847 pounds and had an estimated street value of about $100,000.The men were released pending further investigation, CBP said.Khat, also known as Abyssinian tea and African salad, is typically grown in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and is chewed for its amphetamine-like effects, according to CBP.Dried khat leaves can also be boiled to make a stimulant tea.According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), khat contains two central nervous system stimulants — cathinone, a Schedule I controlled substance, and cathine, a Schedule IV controlled substance.MAN BUSTED AFTER CUSTOMS UNCOVERS BIZARRE CARGO HIDDEN INSIDE 22 PAIRS OF SOCKSCBP officers seized approximately 847 pounds of khat with an estimated street value of about $100,000 at a Maryland airport.
(U.S.Customs and Border Protection)Symptoms of khat toxicity can include delusions, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing and increased blood pressure and heart rate, according to the DEA.The World Health Organization classified khat as a drug of abuse...