A Swiss national was arrested at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport in the early hours of Monday morning after 144 kilograms of khat were discovered. Born in 1998 and residing in Jerusalem, the passenger was arriving from Tel Aviv when he was stopped by French customs officers.
The young man was initially placed in customs detention, a measure allowing for the temporary detention of a person suspected of a flagrant customs offense. He was then scheduled to appear before the Bobigny court on Tuesday. Khat is classified as a narcotic, and its possession, transport, and sale are prohibited in France.
Seizures are decreasing in France
Consumed primarily in Yemen and several countries in the Horn of Africa, khat leaves are chewed slowly and held against the cheek. This plant has stimulating and euphoric properties, with effects comparable to those of amphetamines. Because its freshness is crucial for consumption, its trafficking regularly involves air travel.
French customs seized 3,5 tons of khat in 2025, 72% of which was in air transport, compared to over 5 tons in 2024, 7 tons in 2023, and nearly 16 tons in 2022. The largest known European seizure dates back to 2022 in Spain, where 3,2 tons of the plant, valued at approximately €61 million, were intercepted. The passenger arrested at Roissy airport remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Community
Comments
Write a comment
Be the first to comment on this article.