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UK could become 'smuggling hub' for herbal high khat | UK could become 'smuggling hub' for herbal high khat |
(about 3 hours later) | |
By Lucy Ash BBC Radio 4, The Report | By Lucy Ash BBC Radio 4, The Report |
The UK could become a hub for smuggling the herbal stimulant khat, European police and politicians have warned. | The UK could become a hub for smuggling the herbal stimulant khat, European police and politicians have warned. |
The Netherlands is the latest country to outlaw the sale of the plant, which is now banned in sixteen EU member states and Norway. | The Netherlands is the latest country to outlaw the sale of the plant, which is now banned in sixteen EU member states and Norway. |
Khat is freely sold in the UK and observers say the UK's isolated stance could make it the main base for Europe's khat trade. | Khat is freely sold in the UK and observers say the UK's isolated stance could make it the main base for Europe's khat trade. |
The British government has commissioned a new review of khat use. | The British government has commissioned a new review of khat use. |
Until announcing its ban earlier this month, the Netherlands was similar in its stance to the UK where the East African plant is legally imported, sold and consumed. | Until announcing its ban earlier this month, the Netherlands was similar in its stance to the UK where the East African plant is legally imported, sold and consumed. |
In 2005 the UK Home Office commissioned a report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) which concluded that "the evidence of harm resulting from khat use is not sufficient to recommend its control." | In 2005 the UK Home Office commissioned a report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) which concluded that "the evidence of harm resulting from khat use is not sufficient to recommend its control." |
In the UK, the drug is mainly consumed by people of Somali and Yemeni origin and the ACMD report concluded there was "no evidence of its spread to the general population." | In the UK, the drug is mainly consumed by people of Somali and Yemeni origin and the ACMD report concluded there was "no evidence of its spread to the general population." |
'Social harm' | 'Social harm' |
Gerd Leers, Immigration and Integration Minister in the Netherlands, says he already has enough evidence of social harm caused by the drug to support a ban, which will come into force from June this year. | Gerd Leers, Immigration and Integration Minister in the Netherlands, says he already has enough evidence of social harm caused by the drug to support a ban, which will come into force from June this year. |
Mark Lancaster, MP for Milton Keynes North, argued that khat should be outlawed in Britain in a speech he made in Parliament earlier this month. | Mark Lancaster, MP for Milton Keynes North, argued that khat should be outlawed in Britain in a speech he made in Parliament earlier this month. |
But others say that making khat a controlled drug could lead to further problems. | But others say that making khat a controlled drug could lead to further problems. |
"What worries me about the Netherlands is that once these legal Somali traders are criminalised and have their livelihood taken away from them - what are they going to do next?" says Axel Klein, an expert witness for the ACMD's 2005 report. | "What worries me about the Netherlands is that once these legal Somali traders are criminalised and have their livelihood taken away from them - what are they going to do next?" says Axel Klein, an expert witness for the ACMD's 2005 report. |
"They have contacts, trading skills, financial acumen so it is very possible that they will start trafficking the khat and then diversify into harder drugs. | "They have contacts, trading skills, financial acumen so it is very possible that they will start trafficking the khat and then diversify into harder drugs. |
"This is our main concern when looking at the UK as well. | "This is our main concern when looking at the UK as well. |
"Do we really want to create the opportunity for an organised crime syndicate to start-up from nowhere with long term consequences by banning khat?" | "Do we really want to create the opportunity for an organised crime syndicate to start-up from nowhere with long term consequences by banning khat?" |
Mr Klein argues that khat is chewed mainly by older men in the Somali diaspora and the practice will die out - rather like snuff has done in the UK. | Mr Klein argues that khat is chewed mainly by older men in the Somali diaspora and the practice will die out - rather like snuff has done in the UK. |
But British-Somali Muna Hassan is not so sure. She blames khat use for inducing her younger brother's paranoid schizophrenia. | |
He has lived in the UK since the age of 5 and had a bright future ahead of him, studying at university, when he started chewing Khat. | |
"The Somali community has a unified voice on this. Those who argue against a ban don't know about the community and they can't see all the damage it is doing to families and individuals. We know." | |
"The Somali community has a unified voice on this," she told Radio 4's The Report. | "The Somali community has a unified voice on this," she told Radio 4's The Report. |
"Those who argue against a ban don't know about the community and they can't see all the damage it is doing to families and individuals. We know," she says. | "Those who argue against a ban don't know about the community and they can't see all the damage it is doing to families and individuals. We know," she says. |
'Dangerous' drug | 'Dangerous' drug |
Eleni Palazidou, a psychiatrist who has worked with the Somali community in east London, agrees. | Eleni Palazidou, a psychiatrist who has worked with the Somali community in east London, agrees. |
"For me it is a drug - no two ways about it. | "For me it is a drug - no two ways about it. |
"Every patient that I have seen who chews khat, I have seen them worsening and it is impossible to get their condition under control. | "Every patient that I have seen who chews khat, I have seen them worsening and it is impossible to get their condition under control. |
"What khat does to the brain is similar to amphetamines. I think heavy, regular use is dangerous. | "What khat does to the brain is similar to amphetamines. I think heavy, regular use is dangerous. |
I have no doubt that khat has a major adverse effect on people's mental health and does cause psychological problems," she told The Report. | I have no doubt that khat has a major adverse effect on people's mental health and does cause psychological problems," she told The Report. |
The Netherlands' ban has been welcomed by Dutch citizens like Dagmar Oudshoorn, mayor of the village of Uithoorn, near Schipol, who says the khat trade has been a blight on her community. | The Netherlands' ban has been welcomed by Dutch citizens like Dagmar Oudshoorn, mayor of the village of Uithoorn, near Schipol, who says the khat trade has been a blight on her community. |
"Four times a week 200 cars arrive with people who want to buy khat and they fight - we had stabbing incidents - and they leave rubbish everywhere. | "Four times a week 200 cars arrive with people who want to buy khat and they fight - we had stabbing incidents - and they leave rubbish everywhere. |
"We want to refurbish our business area but because of the bad environment we lose investors and customers," she told the BBC. | "We want to refurbish our business area but because of the bad environment we lose investors and customers," she told the BBC. |
Neighbouring states, where the drug has long been illegal, have also put pressure on the Dutch government in The Hague because they have seen a sharp increase in khat trafficking from Holland. | Neighbouring states, where the drug has long been illegal, have also put pressure on the Dutch government in The Hague because they have seen a sharp increase in khat trafficking from Holland. |
For Europe's Nordic countries, much of the khat arrives by truck across the Oresund bridge between Denmark and southern Sweden. | For Europe's Nordic countries, much of the khat arrives by truck across the Oresund bridge between Denmark and southern Sweden. |
Swedish police estimate that 200 tonnes is smuggled into the country each year, with a street value of 150 euros (£125/$190) a kilo. | Swedish police estimate that 200 tonnes is smuggled into the country each year, with a street value of 150 euros (£125/$190) a kilo. |
After years of lobbying, Swedish MEP Olle Schmidt admits he was pleasantly surprised by the Dutch move to ban khat. | After years of lobbying, Swedish MEP Olle Schmidt admits he was pleasantly surprised by the Dutch move to ban khat. |
"There is a shift in the Netherlands. They no longer want to be seen as a liberal country where tourists can come to smoke pot and buy drugs. | "There is a shift in the Netherlands. They no longer want to be seen as a liberal country where tourists can come to smoke pot and buy drugs. |
"Now, of course, khat will come more extensively to the London airports and then be smuggled to the rest of Europe, because you can earn a lot of money with this drug," warns Mr Schmidt. | "Now, of course, khat will come more extensively to the London airports and then be smuggled to the rest of Europe, because you can earn a lot of money with this drug," warns Mr Schmidt. |
Stefan Kalman, a senior detective in the Swedish drug squad, says customs officers catch smugglers on the border several times a week. | Stefan Kalman, a senior detective in the Swedish drug squad, says customs officers catch smugglers on the border several times a week. |
"The couriers often have accidents because they drive so fast", he says. | "The couriers often have accidents because they drive so fast", he says. |
"Sometimes they shoot past the border controls without stopping because they are nervous - khat is quite bulky and you cannot conceal it like other drugs." | "Sometimes they shoot past the border controls without stopping because they are nervous - khat is quite bulky and you cannot conceal it like other drugs." |
They are also in a rush because the drug has to be consumed when it is fresh. | They are also in a rush because the drug has to be consumed when it is fresh. |
Cathinone, one of the psychoactive agents in khat leaves, is highly unstable and loses its potency within three days of harvesting. | Cathinone, one of the psychoactive agents in khat leaves, is highly unstable and loses its potency within three days of harvesting. |
With the door slammed shut in Holland, smugglers will turn to the UK despite the longer distances says Detective Kalman. | With the door slammed shut in Holland, smugglers will turn to the UK despite the longer distances says Detective Kalman. |
"With the Eurotunnel you can get from London to Malmo in 15 hours. Britain will become the new hub in Europe that is for certain." | "With the Eurotunnel you can get from London to Malmo in 15 hours. Britain will become the new hub in Europe that is for certain." |
The British government has commissioned a new review of khat use - the date of its publication is still to be confirmed. | The British government has commissioned a new review of khat use - the date of its publication is still to be confirmed. |
The Report is one BBC Radio 4 Thursday, 26 January at 20:00 GMT. Listen via the Radio 4 website or download the programme podcast. | The Report is one BBC Radio 4 Thursday, 26 January at 20:00 GMT. Listen via the Radio 4 website or download the programme podcast. |