Major Khat Drug Seizure
Customs Officers Seize 847 Pounds of Illegal Khat at BWI Airport
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized 847 pounds of khat at Baltimore Washington International Airport from two U.S. citizens returning from London CBP News. The drug, worth roughly $100,000 on the street, was discovered during a secondary inspection. Khat, also called Abyssinian tea or African salad, is a plant-based stimulant that produces an amphetamine-like high when chewed.
What Khat Does to Your Body
Khat is chewed fresh or dried, but users can also smoke it or sprinkle it on food Action News JAX. The drug causes a rush of energy and alertness, similar to amphetamines. However, khat carries serious health risks including delusions, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, and increased blood pressure and heart rate HITS 1053 San Antonio.
A Massive Year for Border Drug Seizures
This single seizure is part of a larger trend at U.S. borders. Between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, CBP seized approximately 46,000 pounds of khat nationwide WPXI. This means the two men at BWI were caught with less than 2 percent of the year's total seizures, showing how much of this drug flows through U.S. airports.
Why Secondary Inspections Catch Drug Smuggling
The two men thought they could bring khat through airport security without notice KIRO 7. Instead, officers pulled them aside for a secondary inspection—a closer look at their luggage and belongings. That extra check revealed the 847 pounds hidden in their bags. The seizure shows that even large quantities of illegal drugs can be caught when travelers face additional screening.
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