Two Israeli Women Released on Bail in Poland After Khat Arrest
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
A court in Krakow, Poland, released two Israeli women, aged 23 and 24, on bail after nearly four months in detention for allegedly smuggling 100 kilograms of khat. They must remain in Poland and report to police weekly until their trial. The women were arrested in June, and if convicted, face 3 to 23 years in prison. Their lawyer argued they were young, had no criminal record, and their detention was unjustified.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Two Israeli women were released on bail in Krakow, Poland, after nearly four months in detention.
- They were arrested in June for allegedly smuggling approximately 100 kilograms of khat.
- The women, aged 23 and 24, face 3 to 23 years in prison if convicted.
- They are banned from leaving Poland and must report to police weekly.
- Their lawyer argued the act was careless and their continued detention was unjustified.
- The case highlights the exploitation of young Israelis as drug couriers in Europe.
A court in Krakow, Poland, ordered the release on bail of two young Israeli women, aged 23 and 24, who had been held in custody for approximately four months on suspicion of smuggling a large quantity of khat. The judge ruled that the women would be released from prison but must remain under a travel ban preventing them from leaving Poland and are required to report to a local police station weekly until the legal proceedings against them conclude.
The women were arrested in mid-June upon landing in Krakow from Israel. A search of their luggage revealed approximately 100 kilograms of khat, divided equally between their suitcases. In Poland, as in other EU countries, khat is classified as a prohibited drug, and Polish law considers smuggling such quantities a serious criminal offense, punishable by 3 to 23 years in prison.
Their lawyer, Wit Steidler, told Ynet that the decision to release them under restrictive conditions was not a given, considering the severity of the offense. He stated that the defense team successfully convinced the court that the act was a careless mistake by young women with no prior criminal record and that their continued detention under isolation and arrest was unjustified.
The case highlights a known phenomenon of young Israelis being exploited to act as khat couriers in Europe, where there is demand for the plant among East African immigrant communities. Organizers lure young people with sums of around 5,000 shekels and paid flights, misleading them about the risks, which they present as limited to confiscation or a small fine. In reality, Polish authorities enforce a zero-tolerance policy and use strict pre-trial detention as an immediate deterrent.
