Over 100kgs of the stimulant drug khat was intercepted at the airport on its way to be sold at a shop in Ħamrun.

Yesterday, during a routine inspection of commercial cargo, Customs officials came across a suspicious consignment declared as henna leaves. Upon further inspection, a total of 59 packets of a green substance were elevated with a total weight of 113kgs.

“The enforcement officials were not convinced that the merchandise consisted of raw henna due to the consistency and smell and suspected it was khat,” a press release said.

“The help of the Police Anti-Drug Squad was requested, who seized the cargo for additional forensic laboratory tests.”

Further tests revealed that the substance was in fact khat, an illegal chewing stimulant listed as a dangerous drug.

The consignment was heading to a shop in Ħamrun belonging to a foreign man living in Malta. He has since been arrested pending investigations.

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