Customs Agents Seize More Than 100 Lbs. Of Khat Near PHL For Second Time This Month
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – For the second time in less than a month, U.S. Customs officers have seized more than 100 pounds of khat near Philadelphia Airport.
Officials from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized a combined 167 pounds of khat on Monday that arrived from France inside two wooden crates.
The crates, which were on their way to Minnesota, were x-rayed and revealed a green leafy plant instead of the machinery parts they claimed to contain.
Officials say they shipped the parcels to the Minneapolis Police Department, who arrested Abdirazak Barre Aden, 35, on narcotics charges.
Khat is a leafy green plant that's typically grown in the Arabian Peninsula and chewed for its stimulant effect. Its principal components are considered controlled substances in the U.S.
Earlier this month, officials seized more than 100 pounds of khat at the mail facility located near Philadelphia International Airport.
