COPS SEIZE SHIPMENT OF THE NARCOTIC KHAT, A FIRST IN PHILLY

Philadelphia police have made their first seizure of the drug khat, a
narcotic plant that is popular in East Africa and the Saudi Arabian
peninsula.

Undercover narcotics cops on Wednesday seized 740 pounds of khat that
was being delivered to an East Falls address, said Lt. Frank Vanore,
a police spokesman. The value of the drugs has been put at about
$148,000.

Vanore said it was the first seizure of khat (pronounced COT) in
Philadelphia and perhaps the first in the state. No arrests had been
made as of yesterday afternoon.

The khat leaves and twigs that are routinely chewed as part of
socializing with friends in places like Somalia and Yemen were
wrapped in banana leaves and packaged in boxes.

"It is not illegal in Europe or Africa; it's legalized there," Vanore
said. "But here, we have it as a Schedule 1 narcotic" - the same as
cocaine and heroin.

Narcotics Chief Inspector William Blackburn said the khat is
typically found in places like Detroit, Minneapolis, Dallas, Boston
and New York.

"According to intelligence reports, it's prevalent in areas that have
large populations of people from Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen,"
Blackburn said.

Blackburn said khat leaves are chewed like tobacco or added to tea or
food products.

The drug produces an excitement and euphoria that is similar to the
effects of cocaine or marijuana, and can last anywhere from 90
minutes to 24 hours.

The side effects can also include hallucinations and paranoia,
Blackburn said.

Khat, which is also spelled Qat or Kat, is a natural drug that comes
from the Celastrus edulis plant. Khat contains cathine
(d-norisoephedrine), cathidine and cathinine. Cathine is also one of
the alkaloids found in Ephedra vulgaris, according to Internet reports.

"We just want to make people aware of it," Vanore said. "We don't
think it's being frequently used here now, but our concern is that
it's very, very inexpensive and it could become a problem."

He said it neither looks nor smells like marijuana. It has a very
strong odor.

"It doesn't have a very good shelf life," Vanore said. "Once it's out
for a certain period of time, it loses its narcotic effect." *