Bust: Man Hauling 71 Kilos of Illegal Khat in a Taxi
Taxi passenger discovered with 71 kg of illegal substances on board - Taxi passenger nabbed carrying 71 kilograms of illicit substances.
Hey there! Let's talk about a recent bust that went down in Weil am Rhein, a part of the Lörrach district. A fella in a taxi was caught with a whopping 71 kilograms of khat!
Now, khat is a plant, often misspelled as "Kath," native to East Africa. It's notoriously known for its leaves containing cathinone, a stimulant that shares some similarities with amphetamine, but in a less intense form.
The 29-year-old passenger had the stuff stashed away in his luggage, and customs officials made the discovery during a routine check on March 20. They nabbed the guy and started an investigation for suspected violations of the Narcotics Act.
Now, here's a fun fact—and it's a bit tempting to say "khat yourself" into this—in Germany, khat itself is illegal. But, you might be able to find some synthesized derivatives of cathinone with a prescription, under controlled conditions.
Want to know a bit more about khat? This plant has some interesting international ties, particularly with Germany's past in drug refinement, like cocaine production during the late 19th century. However, the regulation of khat follows modern drug-control frameworks, very different from those old days.
As for Weil am Rhein, they abide by the national drug laws, but there's no unique local policy mentioned in the sources related to this specific incident. So, you can assume that the general prohibition on khat, as per Germany's laws, applies uniformly across the country. Make sense?
- khat
- taxi
- Weil am Rhein
- Rhine
- illegal drugs
- Lörrach
- car
- vehicle
- Germany's drug laws
- In Weil am Rhein, a town in the Lörrach district, a man was caught with 71 kilograms of illegal khat hidden in his luggage inside a taxi.
- The 29-year-old passenger was apprehended for suspected violations of Germany's stringent drug laws, as the possession, sale, and transport of khat are considered criminal offenses.
- Khat is an East African plant known for its stimulating effects, despite its active compound, cathinone, being less potent than amphetamine.
- Although certain derivatives of cathinone can be obtained with a prescription in Germany, the actual plant remains illegal, posing risks for individuals traveling across Germany's borders with khat.
