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KHAT
AKA: Catha Edulis
Street Names: Khat has over 40 street names to include Abyssinian Tea,
African Salad, Bushman’s Tea, Chat, Gat, Kat, Miraa, Oat, Qat,
Somali Tea, Tohai, Tschat
Description: Catha Edulis is a shrub (6-12 feet in height) which is
grown in southern Arabia and Eastern Africa, and primarily in the countries
of Somolia, Yemen, Kenya and Ethiopia. Also known at khat, qat, and quat
(pronounced cot). The leaves of this plant contain the alkaloids cathine
and cathinone, and are chewed for the stimulant effects.
How is Khat
abused? Khat is ingested by chewing the leaves-as is done
with loose tobacco. Dried Khat leaves can be brewed in tea or added to
food.
What are
the licit uses of khat? There is no legitimate use for khat
in the United States.
CATHINE: An alkaloid which is a Schedule IV drug under the CSA.
CATHINONE: An alkaloid which is a Schedule I drug under the CSA.
What is
an alkaloid? Any of various physiologically active, nitrogen-containing
organic bases obtained from plants such as nicotine, quinine, atropine,
cocaine, and morphine.
Within 48 hours
of harvest Khat’s chemical composition breaks
down and at that point Khat contains only Cathine, the schedule IV substance.
What effects does Khat have on a user? After ingestion the user experiences
immediate increase in blood pressure and heart rate. It is a stimulant
which effects begin to subside after about 90 minutes to 3 hours, but
can last 24 hours.
Who uses
Khat? Khat is accepted within the Somali, Kenyan, Ethiopian,
and Yemeni cultures in the U.S. and is used by members of this immigrant
community. Typically, only the males from these cultures use the drug.
What are
the risks? Individuals who abuse khat typically experience a state of mild depression
following
periods of prolonged use. Taken
in excess khat causes extreme thirst, hyperactivity, insomnia, and loss
of appetite. Khat can reduce the user’s motivation and can cause
manic behavior with grandiose delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations.
Khat can cause damage to the nervous, respiratory, circulatory, and digestive
systems.
How much
is available in the United States? The availability of khat in the
United States has been increasing since 1995. According to the Federal-wide
Drug Seizure System (FDSS), law enforcement seizures of khat increased
from 14 metric tons in 1995 to over 37 metric tons in 2001. During the
first six months of 2002, nearly 30 metric tons of khat was seized. El
Paso Intelligence Center reported that law enforcement seized 32, 39,
37, 54, 47, and 32 metric tons of khat in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,
and through September 2005, respectively.
How much
does it cost to manufacture? Khat is purchased from farmers
in the horn of Africa region for about $1 per kilogram. Warlords operating
in this area use their planes to ship the khat to countries in Europe,
where khat is still legal. The khat is sold to middlemen for $200/kg,
a profit of $199 per kilogram. The drugs are then shipped to the United
States and elsewhere.
How much
does Khat sell for in the United States? Khat generally sells
for $300-$600 per kilogram or $30 to $60 per bundle (which is 40 leafed
twigs measuring 12-15 inches in length).
How is khat
shipped to United States? Khat is either shipped using couriers
who can put between 20 and 140 kilograms in their suitcases or sent via
express mail in boxes containing 9-25 kilograms of khat.
Where do
the profits go? Evidence suggests the money made from the sale
of khat is moving back to Europe and the Middle East.
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