Khat Trafficking: 2 Malagasy Nationals Arrested at Mauritius Airport

Two Malagasy individuals were apprehended at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in Plaisance, Mauritius, on the evening of Sunday, September 1st, after authorities discovered 440 grams of khat in their luggage.

The suspects, both aged 29, had arrived in Mauritius for work-related purposes.

They were taken before the Mahébourg Court on Monday, September 2nd, facing preliminary charges of drug importation.

According to Europe 1, khat is a narcotic product originating from Africa.

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) describes khat as a shrub that grows in the Horn of Africa, southern Arabia, and along the eastern coast of Africa.

It is known by various names in different regions: “qat” in Yemen, “jad” or “chat” in Ethiopia and Somalia, “miraa” in Kenya, and “murungu” in Rwanda and Uganda.

The leaves of the khat plant are chewed for their stimulating effects, which can lead to heightened energy and euphoria.

Source: Defi Media