Thursday, December 14, 2006
Two people appeared in the Hamilton District Court yesterday charged with importing and possessing a drug police say has methamphetamine-like qualities.
Unemployed man Ahmed Mohamoud, 49, and housewife Maryan Ahmed, 44, both of Hamilton, face charges of possessing the drug khat for supply, selling it and importing it into New Zealand.
They entered no pleas to the charges.
Mohamoud's charges relate to an incident on September 7 while Ahmed's relate to various periods, including selling the drug between November 6 and December 7, importing it between November 1 and December 7 and possessing it for supply on December 7.
The pair were released on bail with Ahmed due back in court on December 20 and Mohamoud on January 10.
Outside court, Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton said while the drug was widely accepted and available in other communities around the world, it was illegal in New Zealand.
"It's similar to methamphetamine and is highly addictive," he said.
"It is popular with young people within some immigrant communities in Hamilton."
Customs investigations manager Bill Perry said the department had made several seizures of khat.
"The most significant was a shipment of 27kg of khat imported from Australia."
The maximum penalty for importing a Class C drug is eight years' imprisonment.
A Somali student spoken to by the Times scoffed at police claims of the danger from the drug.
"Back home it is like coffee, not methamphetamine –- it gives you an alert state," he said.
But a Somali community leader said ignorance of the drug's illegal status was no excuse.
Waikato Somali Friendship Society president Abdinasir Ahmed said it was up to people to learn the law.
"Yes, in Somalia and east Africa it (khat) is not considered a drug – but here in New Zealand we know it is and the law must be respected," he said.
Source: Stuff, Dec 14, 2006