Munich officials seize 1.2 tons of banned stimulant khat
October 19, 2021
Munich airport officials on Tuesday said they had seized a bumper haul of illicit khat leaves that was on its way to the United States.
The 1.2 metric ton haul — a record amount for the airport — was headed to the US from Dubai, through Germany.
False declaration
Customs officials at the Munich airport discovered the leaves in a cargo shipment that had been declared as "table decoration."
German customs officials often inspect and, if necessary, seize shipments that are only in transit.
"This is the largest amount of khat seized since Munich Airport was established," said Thomas Meister, press spokesman for Munich's main customs office.
The office said "appropriate proceedings" had been initiated and the goods seized, with the investigation ongoing.
What is khat?
Khat is a regularly used stimulant in the Horn of Africa and parts of the Middle East.
It is chewed and then held in the cheek as the juices are extracted for its stimulant and euphoric effects.
However, it can lead to psychological dependence, depression and paranoid delusions, and is a controlled or banned substance in most of Europe and North America.
The leaf is particularly popular in the Yemeni, Ethiopian and Somali cultures.
US officials say khat use there is most prevalent among immigrants from those countries.