U.S. Customs and Border Protection says its officers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport have intercepted more than 4,000 pounds of khat in four enforcement actions this year.
The agency estimated the combined street value at about $500,000. The seizures involved international cargo shipments as well as passenger baggage, according to a CBP announcement released Friday.
Cargo shipments and passenger luggage
CBP said cargo in the Atlanta cases originated in India, the Netherlands and Nigeria. Officers also found khat in the luggage of two U.S. citizens arriving from Paris. The agency’s release did not identify the travelers or announce any arrests or charges.
Khat is a leafy plant that contains the stimulants cathinone and cathine. Under federal law, cathinone is listed as a Schedule I controlled substance and cathine is listed as Schedule IV. CBP said the material seized in Atlanta will be destroyed.
A broader enforcement trend
Nationwide, CBP reported seizing about 46,000 pounds of khat during fiscal year 2025 and nearly 19,000 pounds during the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. The totals underscore the scale of a drug that is less familiar to many travelers than other controlled substances.
Sources: U.S. Customs and Border Protection and FOX 5 Atlanta.
