Pubdate: Wed, 01 Jun 2005
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2005 Calgary Herald
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Gwendolyn Richards

POLICE SEIZE UNUSUAL DRUG IN TWO SEARCHES

Too Much Khat Can Lead To Violent Behaviour

Calgary police seized about 121 kilograms of an unusual drug in two 
separate searches Monday.

Catha edulis -- known as "khat" -- is a leaf drug usually chewed fresh for 
an effect similar to amphetamines, such as feelings of euphoria and 
increased alertness. Excessive consumption by users, however, can cause 
slurred speech, staggering and violence.

The seizure from two homes was made more interesting, said drug unit 
detective Nina Vaughan, because they found the drug in dried form.

Khat is at full potency within the first 48 hours of being picked. After 
that, the active ingredient begins to deteriorate, she said.

Dried khat is either smoked or brewed into tea, she added.

"This is the largest seizure we've made here in Calgary," Vaughan said.

The 121 kilograms are worth about $46,000 on the street. Vaughan said it's 
usually sold for $30 to $40 a handful.

The drug isn't physically addictive, she noted, but users can get 
psychologically hooked on khat.

While Calgary police make a couple of khat seizures a year, Vaughan said 
they don't come across it very often.

The plants are native to parts of Africa and Middle Eastern countries and 
are usually consumed by people from those areas. Vaughan said it isn't 
typically sold on the street.

"It's not being used by a large population," she said.

So far, there have been no cases where it has been grown outside of those 
native areas. In this case, the drug came to Calgary through the United States.

Vaughan said the drug is creating some problems in countries where it's 
grown, including decreased productivity. She also said farmers are planting 
khat in their fields instead of traditional crops.

On Monday, police searched a home in the 1300 block of 12th Avenue S.W. and 
seized about 39 kilograms of dried khat. They also searched a residence in 
the 100 block of Royal Elm Meadows N.W., where they netted 82 kilograms of 
the drug.

Three people have been charged in connection with the search and seizure.

Kamil Mohammed Ali, 40, Siraj Osman Abdi, 23, and Hibo Usso Mahammad, 21, 
all face one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Abdi and 
Mahammad are also facing one count each of possession of property obtained 
by crime.
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