Greece Reports Record Khat Seizure at Athens Airport

Edited By: Safae Fathi

Greek authorities have confiscated half a ton of khat at Athens International Airport, marking the largest seizure of the plant-based stimulant in the country’s history. The state-run news agency reported that the shipment, valued at around €1.5 million ($1.75 million), was hidden in four containers declared as carrying curtains, sheets, and fabrics. The cargo was transiting from Israel and bound for the United States.

Khat, derived from the leaves of a plant native to the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, contains chemicals that produce a mild stimulant effect when chewed. The substance is widely used in countries such as Yemen, Ethiopia, and Somalia, but its import and circulation are restricted or banned in many parts of the world, including Europe and North America.

Officials noted that the seizure exceeded Greece’s previous record at Athens International Airport in December 2014. On a wider European scale, Spain carried out the continent’s largest khat confiscation in 2022, intercepting shipments with an estimated street value of €61 million. The incident underscores the continuing challenges posed by international trafficking networks despite ongoing enforcement efforts.