NEW DRUG SPARKS CONCERN

A drug similar to cannabis and widely used in Africa as a stimulant
and a narcotic, khat, is flooding into Australia, Customs sources report.

The cannabis-like drug induces a stupor in small amounts, but can lead
to rages and unpredictable violence in larger doses. It is being
allowed into Australia on permits, mostly to African nationals living
in Australia. But although each permit was for a 5kg amount, many
hundreds of kilograms were coming through the barriers, the sources
said.

They say the effects of the drug, which can be eaten in cakes and
biscuits, ingested in tea, or smoked, can be stupefying and lead to
constant use.

Former residents of North Africa are the most frequent importers of
khat. Many of the imports were being intercepted, and the Customs
sources said they did not meet legal requirements, containing either
stalk, stem or seeds, or the quantities exceeded 5kg.