Narcotic khat leaves worth Rs 40L sent from Ethiopia seized

The officials, who were keeping a close vigil on consignments from Africa, spotted the parcel at Foreign Post Office, Chennai. They grew suspicious because the parcel sent from the Ethiopian capital did not contain any declaration about its contents. They opened the consignment to find eight packets wrapped in silver/pink metallic gift wrap paper. Inside them were polythene bags containing leaves that were green in colour but dried, believed to be khat — also called Miraa.

In all, 15.6 kg of dried leaves, believed to be khat leaves, was seized. It has an estimated value of Rs 40 lakhs.

The parcel from Addis Ababa had given a consignee address in Chennai. However, when the officials searched, the address was found to be fake. According to a statement from the Commissioner of Customs (Airport) on Thursday, there is a sizeable population of African students in city, and some may be addicted to the narcotic.

It contains alkaloids cathinone and cathine, amphetamine like stimulants, which cause euphoria.