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East African Drug Intercepted In Richmond
POSTED: 11:54 am EDT July 22,
2008
UPDATED: 4:12 pm EDT July 22,
2008
RICHMOND, Indiana -- Police in Richmond said they intercepted a drug package from Ethiopia that was headed for Columbus, Ohio. The package contained a green, leafy substance called "Khat."Do You Know What Khat Is? Find Out HereInvestigators said khat is typically chewed and gives a person a methamphetamine or cocaine-like high. Khat abuse can lead to exhaustion, violence and even suicidal depression.Police said workers at a Richmond U-Haul center became suspicious when the damaged packaged arrived Monday from Ethiopia and called police. It was intended for a person with a Columbus address.Officers first thought the substance was marijuana, but later discovered it was khat. Police in Columbus said it is a big problem in their city.The drug is commonly used in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. However, officials in the U.S. are seeing it more often. Police said the drug is used in social environments overseas, but it is illegal in the United States.
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