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Customs Officers Seize Massive Khat Shipments at Maryland and Virginia Airports

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently intercepted a series of large khat shipments at major airports in the Washington D.C. area. At Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, officers seized nearly 850 pounds of khat from two New York travelers arriving from London. The shipment, valued at approximately $100,000, was discovered during a secondary inspection of 12 suitcases. This discovery followed another significant seizure of 412 pounds of khat, valued at $50,000, which was left behind by a traveler from London. Additionally, at Washington Dulles International Airport, 25-year-old Mohamed Diawara was arrested after officers discovered 368 pounds of khat in his luggage from a flight from Paris. Diawara was charged with felony possession with intent to distribute and transporting a controlled substance into Virginia. CBP officials noted an increase in khat smuggling attempts in traveler baggage, highlighting the success of vigilant officers in intercepting these stimulant-rich plants from East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

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