BULLETIN INTELLIGENCE

MAY 2003

Product No. 2003-L0424-002

U. S. D E P A R T M E N T O F J U S T I C E

The availability of khat, a plant containing

stimulants regulated under the Controlled

Substances Act, is increasing in the United States.

The amount of khat seized by federal law enforcement officers increased dramatically from

14 metric tons in 1995 to 37 metric tons in 2001.

Moreover, in the first 6 months of 2002 federal

officers seized nearly 30 metric tons of the drug.

Individuals of Somali, Ethiopian, and Yemeni descent

are the principal transporters and distributors of khat.

Background

Khat (Catha edulis)—also known as African

salad, bushman’s tea, gat, kat, miraa, qat, chat, tohai,

and tschat—is a flowering shrub native to northeast

Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The plant usually

grows from 2 to 12 feet high; however, it can reach

20 feet. Khat plants typically are grown among

crops such as coffee, legumes, peaches, or papayas.

Fresh khat leaves contain cathinone—a Schedule I

drug under the Controlled Substances Act; however,

the leaves typically begin to deteriorate after 48

hours, causing the chemical composition of the

plant to break down. Once this occurs, the leaves

contain cathine, a Schedule IV drug. Fresh khat

leaves are glossy and crimson-brown in color,

resembling withered basil. Deteriorating khat

leaves are leathery and turn yellow-green in color.

Schedule I and Schedule IV Drugs

Drugs classified as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act are those deemed to have

a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted

medical use in treatment in the United States, and

a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under

medical supervision. Schedule IV drugs are

classified as having a low potential for abuse and

a currently accepted medical use in treatment in

the United States; abuse of Schedule IV drugs

may lead to limited physical or psychological

dependence.

Abuse

In the United States khat use is most prevalent

among immigrants from Somalia, Ethiopia, and

Yemen. These individuals use the drug in casual

settings or as part of religious ceremonies. Abuse

levels are highest in cities with sizable populations of

such immigrants including Boston, Columbus,

Dallas, Detroit, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, and Washington,

D.C. Law enforcement reporting indicates that

some other groups in these areas have begun

abusing the drug.

NW HIDTA/DEA SEA-TACTask Force
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Khat (Catha edulis)

Khat typically is ingested by chewing the

leaves—as is done with loose tobacco. Dried khat

leaves can be brewed in tea or cooked and added to

food. After ingesting khat, the user experiences an

immediate increase in blood pressure and heart rate.

Abusers claim that the drug lifts spirits, sharpens

thinking, and increases energy—effects similar to

but less intense than those caused by abusing

cocaine or methamphetamine. The effects of the

drug generally begin to subside between 90 minutes

and 3 hours after ingestion; however, they can last

up to 24 hours. A state of mild depression can

follow periods of prolonged use. Taken in excess,

khat causes extreme thirst, a sense of exhilaration,

talkativeness, hyperactivity, wakefulness, and loss

of appetite. Repeated use can cause manic behavior

with grandiose delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations. It also can cause damage to the nervous,

respiratory, circulatory, and digestive systems.

Many Muslims, including Somalis, use khat

during the religious month of Ramadan. Law

enforcement officials in the United States indicate

that a large number of khat seizures occur during

Ramadan. In 2002 Ramadan occurred from

November 5 through December 4. During

November and December, U.S. Customs Service

(USCS) officials seized nearly 3,000 kilograms

of khat from airports in California, Illinois,

Kentucky, Minnesota, New York, and Tennessee.

[Note: the USCS is now part of the Bureau of

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service

under the Department of Homeland Security.]

Availability

Seizure data indicate that the availability of

khat is increasing in the United States. According

to Federal-wide Drug Seizure System (FDSS) data,

federal law enforcement officials seized 14 metric

tons in 1995, over 37 metric tons of khat in 2001,

and nearly 30 metric tons in the first 6 months of

2002. State and local law enforcement officials

also frequently seize kilogram quantities of khat.

For example, in October 2002 local law enforcement officials in Merriam, Kansas, seized nine

boxes of khat, each weighing over 13 kilograms,

and arrested two Somali nationals.

The use of khat is accepted within the

Somali, Ethiopian, and Yemeni cultures. In these

countries khat is not a controlled substance and

is openly sold at markets. Many immigrants

from these countries continue to use khat in the

United States. As such, khat frequently is advertised openly on signs in ethnic restaurants, bars,

grocery stores, and smoke shops. Signs often are

printed in the native language of the store owner.

Common names for khat that may appear on such

signs include kat, qat, chat, gat, tohai, tschat, and

mirraa. Khat generally sells for $300 to $400 per

kilogram or $28 to $50 per bundle (40 leafed twigs

measuring 12 to 15 inches in length).

Transportation

Khat must be transported quickly to its

intended market because of its limited shelf life.

Thus, the drug often is transported into the United

States, typically through Great Britain and Canada,

primarily via package delivery services and, to a

lesser extent, by couriers aboard commercial

aircraft. Khat also is transported into the United

States from Canada by private vehicle. To maintain

freshness during transport, khat frequently is

wrapped in plastic bags, banana leaves, or newspapers and sprinkled with water.

Kansas City Police Department

Khat rolled in newspaper for transport.
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National Drug Intelligence Center

Khat smugglers use various tactics to avoid

law enforcement scrutiny when shipping the

drug via package delivery services. For example,

khat usually is listed on manifests (cargo invoices)

as Abyssinian or African tea, African salad,

molokheya (an Egyptian vegetable), perishable

lettuce or fresh vegetables, tobacco leaves, and

herbs. It also has been listed as auto parts on at

least one occasion.

The amount of khat seized from packages

arriving from foreign destinations, as well as the

frequency with which these seizures occur,

illustrates the extent to which package delivery

services are used to transport khat into the

United States. According to USCS, kilogram

quantities of khat were seized daily between

January and September 2002 from packages

arriving at the package delivery facility located

at the Memphis International Airport. USCS

officials seized 3,916 kilograms of khat during

that period.

The following examples demonstrate that

seizures involving package delivery services are

common in other parts of the country as well.

Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota: On

December 31, 2002, USCS officials seized over

146 kilograms of khat concealed in seven boxes

shipped from the United Kingdom and arrested a

29-year-old Minneapolis resident as he accepted

receipt of the boxes.

New York, New York: In August 2002

USCS officials seized 22 packages containing

more than 59 kilograms of khat that had arrived

in New York from London. The packages were

addressed to individuals in several U.S. cities.

During a subsequent controlled delivery, the

Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department Interdiction Unit arrested four male Somali nationals

and one male Ethiopian national. The Omaha

Commercial Interdiction Unit also conducted a

controlled delivery and arrested two Somali

nationals. Other controlled deliveries have been

made in Minneapolis; Norfolk, Nebraska; Seattle; and Sioux City, Iowa.

Kansas City, Missouri: In March 2002

USCS officials seized over 68 kilograms of khat

concealed in five boxes shipped from London

and arrested two Somali nationals who accepted

receipt of the boxes in Kansas City.

Kansas City, Kansas: On October 18, 2002,

officers with the Merriam Police Department

arrested two Somali men from Minneapolis who

were attempting to retrieve several packages

containing khat that had been shipped from London, England, to various locations throughout the

Kansas City area. The packages were addressed

to various individuals with Middle Eastern names

and delivered to 10 different hotels via package

delivery services. The khat was to be distributed

in Minneapolis. At the time of their arrest, the

men had retrieved seven of the packages; the

police collected the other three.

Khat also is transported into the United

States by couriers aboard commercial aircraft.

Khat smugglers in Great Britain frequently

attempt to recruit couriers who are not of African or Middle Eastern origin, believing such

individuals are subject to less scrutiny when

entering the United States.

NW HIDTA/DEA SEA-TAC Task Force

Khat wrapped in banana leaves and smuggled in a suitcase.
Khat (Catha edulis)

319 Washington Street 5th Floor, Johnstown, PA 15901-1622 • (814) 532-4601

NDIC publications are available on the following web sites:

ADNET http://ndicosa LEO home.leo.gov/lesig/ndic

RISS ndic.riss.net INTERNET www.usdoj.gov/ndic

040706

The following example illustrates the use of

this smuggling method.

Detroit, Michigan: On January 13, 2003,

USCS officials seized approximately 80 kilograms

of khat concealed in the luggage of two British

women arriving from London. Law enforcement

officials executed a controlled delivery of the khat

to a hotel near the airport and arrested two Somali

men from Nashville, Tennessee, who attempted to

receive the drug. The two Somali men were to

transport the khat by private vehicle back to

Tennessee for distribution among the Somali

community in Nashville.

Outlook

Khat likely will become increasingly available in the United States. Abuse of the drug will

remain most prevalent in communities with large

Somali, Ethiopian, and Yemeni populations.

Recent law enforcement reporting indicates that

some Caucasian individuals have begun abusing

khat; however, the drug likely will not become

widely popular due to its limited shelf life and

because stimulant abusers commonly seek more

intense physiological effects, such as those

produced by cocaine and methamphetamine.

Although the drug’s popularity likely will remain

limited to Somali, Ethiopian, and Yemeni populations, khat will remain a growing concern among

law enforcement agencies in the United States

because of its increasing availability.

Sources

Falkowski, Carol. Dangerous Drugs: An Easyto-Use Reference for Parents and Professionals.

Center City, Minnesota: Hazelden, 2003

New York State Office of Alcoholism and

Substance Abuse Services

Northwestern Ontario (Canada) Tri-Force/Kenora

Joint Forces Drug Unit

Street Drugs, Publishers Group, Plymouth,

Minnesota, www.streetdrugs.org

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Directorate of Border and Transportation

Security

Bureau of Immigration and Customs

Enforcement Service

U.S. Department of Justice

Drug Enforcement Administration

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Federal-wide Drug Seizure System