Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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More than 1,200 pounds of khat were recently seized at O'Hare International Airport, leading to the arrests of three people, federal authorities said.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, federal officers inspected two travelers at O'Hare Airport on Aug. 19 before their flight to LaGuardia International Airport in New York. Once in baggage secondary, an examination of their luggage revealed 167 packages of khat, weighing 755 pounds. The khat was concealed inside pink plastic.

Khat is a flowering evergreen shrub that is abused for its stimulant-like effect and is an illegal controlled substance, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

#khat #chicago #ohare
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