Thirteen Convicted for Smuggling Khat into U.S.
Prosecutors said the defendants trafficked more than 10 million grams into the U.S.
Mary C. Stachyra
5/19/2012
http://centreville.patch.com/articles/thirteen-convicted-for-smuggling-khat-into-u-s

Thirteen people—many of them from Northern Virginia—were convicted in federal court on Thursday for trafficking more than 10 million grams of khat into the United States.

Human couriers were paid about $1,000 per trip to travel to England and return with khat smuggled in their passenger luggage, prosecutors for the Eastern District of Virginia said. They used the post office and delivery companies to distribute it in states throughout the east, including in the D.C. metro area.

Members of the conspiracy would use rented vehicles to provide couriers with transportation to and from the airport, prosecutors said. Then, they'd pick out locations throughout the United States for couriers to pick up or ship khat to people elsewhere in the U.S. Their counterparts in the United Kingdom would send them Express Mail packages that contained khat, while labeling them “baby clothes" or picture frames.

Prosecutors said many of the proceeds from the sales were sent to England, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda.

Fresh khat leaves contain the drug cathinone, which can be addictive. The effects are similar to, but less intense than methamphetamine or cocaine, prosecutors said. Those who chew it may experience a sense of euphoria and excitement. Up to 10 million people worldwide chew khat, and it is common in areas such as East Africa and southern Arabia. However, it has also grown popular in the United States among teens and partygoers.

The following people were convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cathinone, a Schedule I controlled substance found in khat. They all face up to 20 years in prison.

•Suado Mohamed Ali, 45, of Burke*
•Hibo Musse Samantar, 34, of Annandale
•Ahmed Ali Hassan, 31, of Alexandria, Va
•Osman Yusuf, 56, of Clifton*
•Abdirahman Abshir Jibril, 45, of Fairfax*
•Harun Salhan, 47, of Wheaton, Md.
•Ismail Mohamud Abdi, 50, of Alexandria*
•Abdi Muhumed, 43, of Parkville, Md.*
•Lutf Mohamed Albukhaiti, 36, of Brooklyn, N.Y.*
•Nagi Mansor Sea Alashmali, 50, of Brooklyn, N.Y.
•Khaled Ahmed Isa, 36, of Brooklyn, N.Y.*
•Abdi Omar Abdi, 56, of Columbus, Ohio*
•Abokor Gurreh, 55, of Columbus, Ohio*

* =also convicted of conspiracy to launder the proceeds of khat sales to suppliers in the United Kingdom and Africa.

Those sound like names that belong to detainees at Guantanamo Bay. LOL

Blessed are the murderous.

McGruff - The Crime Dog! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thirteen Convicted for Smuggling Khat into U.S.
> Prosecutors said the defendants trafficked more
> than 10 million grams into the U.S.
> Mary C. Stachyra
> 5/19/2012
> http://centreville.patch.com/articles/thirteen-con
> victed-for-smuggling-khat-into-u-s
>
> Thirteen people—many of them from Northern
> Virginia—were convicted in federal court on
> Thursday for trafficking more than 10 million
> grams of khat into the United States.
>
> Human couriers were paid about $1,000 per trip to
> travel to England and return with khat smuggled in
> their passenger luggage, prosecutors for the
> Eastern District of Virginia said. They used the
> post office and delivery companies to distribute
> it in states throughout the east, including in the
> D.C. metro area.
>
> Members of the conspiracy would use rented
> vehicles to provide couriers with transportation
> to and from the airport, prosecutors said. Then,
> they'd pick out locations throughout the United
> States for couriers to pick up or ship khat to
> people elsewhere in the U.S. Their counterparts in
> the United Kingdom would send them Express Mail
> packages that contained khat, while labeling them
> “baby clothes" or picture frames.
>
> Prosecutors said many of the proceeds from the
> sales were sent to England, Kenya, Somalia and
> Uganda.
>
> Fresh khat leaves contain the drug cathinone,
> which can be addictive. The effects are similar
> to, but less intense than methamphetamine or
> cocaine, prosecutors said. Those who chew it may
> experience a sense of euphoria and excitement. Up
> to 10 million people worldwide chew khat, and it
> is common in areas such as East Africa and
> southern Arabia. However, it has also grown
> popular in the United States among teens and
> partygoers.
>
> The following people were convicted of conspiracy
> to distribute and possess with intent to
> distribute cathinone, a Schedule I controlled
> substance found in khat. They all face up to 20
> years in prison.
>
> •Suado Mohamed Ali, 45, of Burke*
> •Hibo Musse Samantar, 34, of Annandale
> •Ahmed Ali Hassan, 31, of Alexandria, Va
> •Osman Yusuf, 56, of Clifton*
> •Abdirahman Abshir Jibril, 45, of Fairfax*
> •Harun Salhan, 47, of Wheaton, Md.
> •Ismail Mohamud Abdi, 50, of Alexandria*
> •Abdi Muhumed, 43, of Parkville, Md.*
> •Lutf Mohamed Albukhaiti, 36, of Brooklyn,
> N.Y.*
> •Nagi Mansor Sea Alashmali, 50, of Brooklyn,
> N.Y.
> •Khaled Ahmed Isa, 36, of Brooklyn, N.Y.*
> •Abdi Omar Abdi, 56, of Columbus, Ohio*
> •Abokor Gurreh, 55, of Columbus, Ohio*
>
> * =also convicted of conspiracy to launder the
> proceeds of khat sales to suppliers in the United
> Kingdom and Africa.

But they're only in this country to make a better life for their families.

Given that Khat needs to be consumed fresh after it has been picked, this is a very impressive smuggling operation.

grown khat?It looks like it.Anyone know where to buy khat seeds?

eesh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Those sound like names that belong to detainees at
> Guantanamo Bay. LOL

or obamas friends in nursery school

Khat is much better and less dangerous than the usual shit they send here.

Is there a market for American Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> grown khat?It looks like it.Anyone know where to
> buy khat seeds?

Merrifield Garden Center, row 12, past the veggie seeds.

Old McDonald Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is there a market for American Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > grown khat?It looks like it.Anyone know where
> to
> > buy khat seeds?
>
> Merrifield Garden Center, row 12, past the veggie
> seeds.


Never have seen Catha edulis seeds there...