Vietnamese officials seize 2.5 metric tons of illegal dried khat leaves

The Hanoi Customs Department affirmed on Wednesday that its officers, in coordination with police units under the Ministry of Public Security, are working to pin down details on an illegal drug ring responsible for smuggling a large amount of ‘khat,’ into the country.

According to the Criminal Science Institute, managed by the Ministry of Public Security, young ‘khat’ leaves contain cathinone, a strong stimulant.

The operation was first reported by a specialized task force from the municipal Customs Department in March, followed by the establishment of a team of investigators and officers from the department and national police force.

On April 15, the team discovered 36 shipments totaling 545 kilograms of the dried leaf being sent to Vietnam from Ethiopia.

Competent authorities continued to track similar packages being imported into Vietnam and various other foreign countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, between April 15 and June 28.

The products were declared to be dried tea leaves, herbs, or moringa oleifera, officers added.

‘Khat’ leaves have similar appearance to dried tea leaves. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Since April 15, a total of 199 shipments consisting of 2.5 metric tons of ‘khat’ leaves have been confiscated by officers and investigators working to identify the senders and recipients.

This is the first time khat has been discovered by officials in Vietnam, an officer from the Ministry of Public Security said during an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, adding that the leaves have a similar appearance to dried herbs and tea leaves.

Due to unprecedented experience with the drug, it took several examinations for competent authorities to pinpoint the main component of the leaves, he continued.

Nguyen Truong Giang, deputy head of the Hanoi Customs Department, assessed the smuggling was complicated, well-organized, and conducted on a national scale.

The criminals took advantage of the fact that Vietnam is a larger exporter of tea leaves, Giang added.

Operators of the ring are likely to live overseas, sending the drugs from several African nations to Vietnam, considered an intermediate location, before transporting them to other countries via airway and international postage, the official stated.