Wednesday August 16, 2017
The Border Enforcement Security Team detained two Yemen men in possession of a controlled plant after the pair attempted to cross the Blue Water Bridge Aug. 10, police said.
The men, ages 29 and 32, told officers they were travelling from Chicago, Illinois, with the intent of staying within the United States, but their GPS had navigated them to the bridge, the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.
BEST officers located 192 grams of khat in plant form and 27 grams in powder form inside the vehicle along with a large amount of U.S. currency. Khat is a controlled substance in many countries and is used as a stimulant.
Both men were arrested and face charges of possession with the intent to deliver khat.
Khat is a flowering shrub native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula that has been widely used since the 13th century as a recreational drug by the indigenous people of East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and throughout the Middle East, according to the DEA. Abuse of khat in the United States is most prevalent among immigrants from Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen.
Individuals who abuse khat typically experience a state of mild depression following periods of prolonged use, according to the DEA. Taken in excess, khat causes extreme thirst, hyperactivity, insomnia and loss of appetite. The plant can reduce the user's motivation and can cause manic behavior with grandiose delusions, paranoia and hallucinations. It can also cause damage to the nervous, respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems.