Israeli Arrested in Italy with 216 Kg of Illegal Khat at Rome Airport

Italian police arrested an Israeli man at Rome's Fiumicino Airport after he attempted to smuggle 216 kilograms of khat, a plant classified as a drug in Italy. The khat was concealed in the passenger's luggage upon his arrival on a flight from Israel. Customs officials conducted a targeted search after the man gave vague and contradictory answers about his travel purpose and stay in Italy. Authorities reported that the man, registered as the sole owner of the bags containing the khat leaves, was reported to the public prosecutor for violating drug laws. This operation is part of ongoing efforts by Italian police and customs to combat cross-border illegal trade at airports and seaports.

This incident follows similar recent cases in Europe: in June 2026, customs services in Warsaw and Krakow arrested two young women for smuggling 100 kilograms of khat into Poland through Krakow Airport. In December 2025, two Haredi women in their twenties from central Israel were detained at Prague International Airport for attempting to smuggle 96 kilograms of khat. While khat is commonly sold in street markets in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Yemen, the European Union strictly prohibits its import, sale, and possession.

The arrest highlights ongoing challenges in controlling the illegal khat trade within Europe, where the substance remains banned despite its legal status in some countries outside the EU. Italian authorities continue to monitor and enforce drug laws rigorously at key entry points like Fiumicino Airport.