Saturday, May 01, 2010
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A Dutchman attempting to smuggle a large quantity of qat leaves into Switzerland has been arrested. In his car police found 215 kilos of the mild stimulant.
Swiss customs officials said the Dutchman was transporting a quantity of the leaves from France to neighbouring Switzerland.
Qat is widely used in Somalia, Ethiopia, Yemen and Kenya. The leaves of the plant are chewed, often for hours on end. The plant is not illegal in the Netherlands, but it is outlawed in Switzerland. East African immigrants in Europe are eager to secure their supply of qat leaves.
Last year two other Dutch qat smugglers were arrested in Switzerland. The Somali-born Dutch were caught red-handed when loading a truck with leaves.
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