Lankan caught with 'Khat'

30 December 2013 04:12 am - 6 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A Sri Lankan arriving from Kenya arrested at the Bandaranaike International Air Port with 50kgs of herbal narcotic 'Khat' which is a banned narcotic in most countries. This is the first time it has been detected in Sri Lanka, Customs said.

According to Wikipedia, Khat or qat is a flowering plant native to the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Among communities from these areas, khat chewing has a long history as a social custom dating back thousands of years.

Khat contains a monoamine alkaloid called cathinone, an amphetamine-like stimulant, which is said to cause excitement, loss of appetite, and euphoria. In 1980, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified it as a drug of abuse that can produce mild to moderate psychological dependence (less than tobacco or alcohol), although WHO does not consider khat to be seriously addictive.

It is a controlled substance in some countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Germany, while its production, sale, and consumption are legal in other nations, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Yemen. (Deepa Adikari)

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Comments - 6

thejitha Monday, 30 December 2013 07:36 AM

Khat is a very normal thing in kenya and its not a drug here.... Our people eat Bulath..... Kenyans here eat Khat.... its not actually a drug.... its dum to arrest some one with Khat

vestigator Monday, 30 December 2013 08:09 AM

sri lanka,paradize of norcoticsgovernment is a narcotic government.locals are no power to stop.now world must act to stop lankan leaders by ban them for entering to their countries and freeze their hidden narcotic and corrupt money.

kumara Monday, 30 December 2013 08:40 AM

Jail him for bringing in such a small quantity -Just 50 kgs and ntot a container !

Andrew Anderson Monday, 30 December 2013 10:09 AM

very soon our guys will blacklist sri lankas name in kenyas visa on arrival list. only very few countries give us visa on arrival

Maya Monday, 30 December 2013 02:29 PM

Its normally use by Somalis and its not bad like other drugs. Its something like tobacco and not expensive. One bundle cost around 5-10 USD. But always better to not to spread this in SL

asoka abeywardena Tuesday, 31 December 2013 07:29 AM

which one is more dangerous, Khat or Heroin...arrested a person with 50 kgs of Khat and nothing did for the person who is responsible for bringing 261 kgs of Heroin...Khat is something like beetle and not only in Kenya, even Arabs used to chew Khat...

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Lankan caught with 'Khat'

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