Two Travelers Caught With Nearly 850 Pounds of Miraa at BWI Airport

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport have seized nearly 847 pounds of khat from two U.S. citizens arriving from London, just days after another traveler abandoned 412 pounds of the stimulant at the airport.

The latest seizure occurred Aug. 13, when CBP officers referred the two New York men for a secondary inspection after they arrived at BWI. During a search of their luggage, officers found what initially appeared to be large quantities of tea leaves.

Field tests identified the material as khat, a plant-based stimulant known as miraa in East Africa, where it is commonly grown and consumed. Khat is also known as Abyssinian tea or African salad.

Each traveler had six soft-sided suitcases packed with the leaves. CBP said the combined weight was 846 pounds, 9 ounces, with an estimated street value of approximately $100,000.

The khat was seized, and the two travelers were released pending further investigation.

“Customs and Border Protection officers have observed substantial quantities of khat being smuggled in commercial shipments, but smuggling loads of this volume inside traveler baggage is a bit unusual, and not any more successful,” said CBP Baltimore Area Port Director Adam Rottman. “Khat is illegal and poses severe health risks to users. CBP will continue to seize khat and other dangerous drugs when we encounter it and we will work with our law enforcement partners to hold smugglers accountable.”

The seizure came only two days after CBP officers encountered another large shipment of khat at BWI. In that incident, officers inspecting a traveler became suspicious, prompting the traveler to flee the inspection area and leave behind luggage containing 412 pounds of khat.

Khat is a leafy plant primarily grown in parts of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. In countries where it is traditionally used, including parts of East Africa, fresh leaves are commonly chewed for their stimulant effects.

The plant contains cathinone and cathine, two naturally occurring stimulants. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, cathinone is a Schedule I controlled substance while cathine is classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance in the United States.

The effects of khat can include increased alertness and energy, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, reduced appetite and difficulty sleeping. Heavy or prolonged use can also be associated with effects such as anxiety, agitation and, in cases of toxicity, delusions and difficulty breathing.

CBP said its officers and agents seized about 46,000 pounds of khat during fiscal year 2025, which ran from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025.

During the first nine months of fiscal year 2026, from Oct. 1, 2025, through July 31, 2026, CBP reported nearly 19,000 pounds of khat seized nationwide.

The two BWI seizures within days of each other highlight the continued efforts by federal authorities to intercept khat entering the United States through international passenger and commercial traffic.