‘Israeli’ passenger caught with 216 kg of drugs at Rome Airport
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Italian finance police and customs officials intercepted a shipment of the stimulant drug khat at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport on Monday.
Officers seized approximately 216 kilograms of the substance, hidden in seven checked suitcases belonging to an ‘Israeli’ national arriving on a flight from Tel Aviv.
The passenger was selected for a targeted check after providing vague and contradictory answers about the purpose of his trip and his planned stay in Italy.
A massive seizure of khat occurred at Fiumicino's Leonardo da Vinci Airport, where finance police from the Rome provincial command and officials from the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) intercepted 216 kilograms of the narcotic hidden inside seven checked bags belonging to an… pic.twitter.com/kBBIRYpE5o
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X-ray scans of the luggage revealed suspicious bundles, prompting officers to open the suitcases and discover fresh bundles and sprigs of Catha edulis leaves and shoots.
Khat, a plant native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, contains the psychoactive alkaloids cathinone and cathine.
These produce amphetamine-like effects, including euphoria, increased alertness, and reduced appetite, though milder than methamphetamine or cocaine.
In Italy, khat is classified as a controlled narcotic substance, making its import, possession, and distribution illegal.
The Guardia di Finanza of Rome’s provincial command, working in coordination with the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), carried out the operation.
The entire load was seized as evidence. As the sole owner of the baggage tags linked to the suitcases, the traveler—reported as a 22-year-old—was denounced at large to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Civitavecchia for suspected drug trafficking under Article 73 of Presidential Decree 309/1990.
The individual was released pending further investigation.
Khat is traditionally chewed in social and cultural contexts in parts of Africa and the Middle East but faces strict controls in Italy and many other EU countries due to its stimulant properties and potential health risks, including insomnia, gastrointestinal issues, and dependency with prolonged use.
