DRUG WARNING FOR REFUGEES TO CHEW ON

Customs is warning East African immigrants that they may be
prosecuted if they continue to receive supplies of the plant-based
Class C drug khat (pronounced cot) from overseas.

Khat is chewed by Somalis and Ethiopians and Southern Arabs, mainly
from the Yemen. There are more than 1500 Somalis and Ethiopians in
the country, most of them political refugees.

Bruce Foster of the Customs drug investigation unit in Auckland said
packages of khat had been seized at the International Mail Services
Centre at Auckland Airport.

He said there had been a marked increase in khat shipments in the
past two years.

Most of the consignments had been addressed quite openly to members
of the local community. The packages, declared as "medicine" or
"plant," had attracted the attention of the Ministry of Agriculture
and Forestry for fumigation. After that, MAF hands the packages to
Customs.

Much of the khat is a gift from friends and relatives in Africa and
Arabia who may not realise the leaf is illegal in New Zealand.

"However, recently there have been more interceptions from Melbourne,
where a large number of Somalis live," said Mr Foster.

"They should be aware that the drug is illegal in this part of the
world and the deliveries may be a sign of a more commercial trade."

Khat is cultivated as a cash crop and sold daily in market stalls in
Eastern Africa and Southern Arabia.

"I'm told that the effect of khat is mainly euphoric," said Mr
Foster. "It can be quite expensive and a bag about the size of a
man's fist sells here for $50."

He estimates that some of the seized packages of khat he has at
Customs headquarters in Auckland are worth at least $300 each.

"We want to educate the migrant community into discouraging their
overseas contacts from sending the product rather than for us having
to formally execute search warrants," said Mr Foster.

"But it has become a bit of a problem. We've made more than 30
seizures in the last 12 months.

"We don't think we've missed many packs mailed and before we crack
down we want to try to talk away the problem.

"But if education doesn't work and if imports continue unabated, we
will have to initiate action under the legislation."

So far most of the khat seized has been destined for Somalis living
in Wellington, although some has also gone to Christchurch.

There is no indication that any other New Zealanders are interested
in the drug.

Khat is the leaf of an evergreen shrub or small tree which can grow
to about 4m.

In New Zealand cultivation of khat is not illegal because the plant
(botanically named catha edulis ) is not prohibited.

Khat can be stored to be smoked, cooked as a vegetable in stews or
ground into a powder to add to soups.

In countries where it is part of the diet, consumption of between
250g and 400g a day is common.

Side-effects of high usage include insomnia, anorexia and depression.
However, a study sponsored by the US National Institute of Drug Abuse
found few signs that khat produces any serious physical or
psychological side-effects.

In Yemen it is estimated that 80 per cent of the adult population
uses khat, and its production and sale accounts for about 30 per cent
of the domestic economy.

Much of the daily rhythm of life revolves around what is called "the
chew" and its attendant rituals.

Sessions can last for hours. The chew starts after lunch and lasts
until late afternoon when the men go home to their women folk who
have been indulging in their own chew.