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US Customs Agents Seize Illegal Khat In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Customs agents in Philadelphia have seized more than 100 pounds of khat, a stimulant commonly used in parts of Africa and the Middle East but illegal in the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Wednesday that agents intercepted three international air parcels at a mail facility near Philadelphia International Airport.

The parcels came from Austria and were destined for Connecticut and Illinois. Officials say khat was hidden inside rolls of fabric and corrugated paperboard.

The drug had a street value of more than $33,000.

Khat is an evergreen shrub whose leaves are typically chewed. The plant is a legal stimulant in many countries.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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