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Italian Customs Seize 216 kg of Khat from Traveler Arriving from Tel Aviv
A 22-year-old Israeli man arriving from Tel Aviv was detained after customs officers found 216 kilograms of the stimulant plant hidden in seven suitcases. He was released after questioning but faces a criminal case under Italian drug laws.
Jul 16, 3:13 AM·1m read1 source
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Italian customs officers seized 216 kilograms of the khat plant from a 22-year-old Israeli citizen at Rome's Fiumicino Airport on July 13. The man had arrived on a flight from Tel Aviv and was detained after giving vague and contradictory answers about his travel plans during passport control.
Officers from the Guardia di Finanza and the Customs and Monopolies Agency scanned and opened seven suitcases during a secondary inspection.
They discovered large packages of fresh khat leaves and stalks inside. The joint operation took place at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino International Airport. The man was not arrested and was released after initial questioning.
Italian authorities opened a criminal case against him for suspected possession and trafficking of drugs under narcotics law and transferred the case to prosecutors in Civitavecchia. The shipment is being held as evidence. Khat, or Catha edulis, is a stimulant plant native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Its sale and use are permitted in Israel, but Italian law classifies commercial quantities as an illegal drug.
