Drug warning for refugees to chew on

By RON TAYLOR

Customs is warning East African immigrants that they may be prosecuted if they continue to receive supplies of the plant-based Class C drug khat (pronounced cot) from overseas.

Khat is chewed by Somalis and Ethiopians and Southern Arabs, mainly from the Yemen. There are more than 1500 Somalis and Ethiopians in the country, most of them political refugees.

Bruce Foster of the Customs drug investigation unit in Auckland said packages of khat had been seized at the International Mail Services Centre at Auckland Airport.

He said there had been a marked increase in khat shipments in the past two years.

Most of the consignments had been addressed quite openly to members of the local community. The packages, declared as "medicine" or "plant," had attracted the attention of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for fumigation. After that, MAF hands the packages to Customs.

Much of the khat is a gift from friends and relatives in Africa and Arabia who may not realise the leaf is illegal in New Zealand.

"However, recently there have been more interceptions from Melbourne, where a large number of Somalis live," said Mr Foster.

"They should be aware that the drug is illegal in this part of the world and the deliveries may be a sign of a more commercial trade."

Khat is cultivated as a cash crop and sold daily in market stalls in Eastern Africa and Southern Arabia.

"I'm told that the effect of khat is mainly euphoric," said Mr Foster. "It can be quite expensive and a bag about the size of a man's fist sells here for $50."

He estimates that some of the seized packages of khat he has at Customs headquarters in Auckland are worth at least $300 each.

"We want to educate the migrant community into discouraging their overseas contacts from sending the product rather than for us having to formally execute search warrants," said Mr Foster.

"But it has become a bit of a problem. We've made more than 30 seizures in the last 12 months.

"We don't think we've missed many packs mailed and before we crack down we want to try to talk away the problem.

"But if education doesn't work and if imports continue unabated, we will have to initiate action under the legislation."

So far most of the khat seized has been destined for Somalis living in Wellington, although some has also gone to Christchurch.

There is no indication that any other New Zealanders are interested in the drug.

Khat is the leaf of an evergreen shrub or small tree which can grow to about 4m.

In New Zealand cultivation of khat is not illegal because the plant (botanically named catha edulis ) is not prohibited.

Khat can be stored to be smoked, cooked as a vegetable in stews or ground into a powder to add to soups.

In countries where it is part of the diet, consumption of between 250g and 400g a day is common.

Side-effects of high usage include insomnia, anorexia and depression. However, a study sponsored by the US National Institute of Drug Abuse found few signs that khat produces any serious physical or psychological side-effects.

In Yemen it is estimated that 80 per cent of the adult population uses khat, and its production and sale accounts for about 30 per cent of the domestic economy.

Much of the daily rhythm of life revolves around what is called "the chew" and its attendant rituals.

Sessions can last for hours. The chew starts after lunch and lasts until late afternoon when the men go home to their women folk who have been indulging in their own chew.