Polish Customs Says It Seized 100 Kilograms of Khat in Suitcases From Two Israeli Women

Polish customs authorities in Warsaw and Krakow released photos of a 100-kilogram khat shipment allegedly smuggled into Poland by two ultra-Orthodox young women at Krakow airport. The women, Israeli citizens ages 23 and 24, had flown from Tel Aviv, according to the customs offices.

Officials said four suitcases contained 500 bundles of green leaves with purple-green stems. The drugs were valued at more than 500,000 zlotys, or about 400,000 shekels. Both suspects were taken for questioning on suspicion of drug smuggling.

They were later brought to the Krakow District Prosecutor’s Office and formally charged with drug smuggling. A court ordered them held for three months. Because the case involves a significant quantity of drugs, they face a prison sentence of three to 20 years.

The article noted that khat is sold openly in parts of Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen, but is heavily restricted in the European Union, where its import, sale and possession are banned. Polish reports said the detained couriers belonged to gangs operating in Israel that specialize in smuggling khat to Europe, mainly for Yemeni and Somali communities in Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia.