Israel Police Find Methamphetamine Sold as Khat Drops

Israel Police and the Health Ministry's Enforcement and Inspection Division identified an illicit trade network distributing methamphetamine under the brand name of khat drops, officials announced Sunday. The joint operation revealed that the liquid product, marketed to consumers as a natural stimulant, contained the synthetic drug instead.

Laboratory analysis confirmed the chemical composition of the drops. Police stated that the substance was methamphetamine, a lab-made stimulant with a high potential for addiction, rather than the expected plant extract. This finding indicates a systematic mislabeling of the product intended for retail sale.

Khat holds a specific legal status in Israel that complicates enforcement. The plant itself is legal to buy, sell, and consume in its natural leaf form. However, any extract derived from the plant is prohibited. Consequently, even if the drops had contained genuine khat extract, their sale would have violated the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.

The legal distinction covers various forms of the substance. Extracts and preparations containing khat-derived substances, including drops, beverages, and capsules, are classified as dangerous drugs. Their consumption, marketing, and production are all prohibited by law, creating a clear regulatory boundary that the sellers crossed.

The khat plant, scientifically known as Catha edulis, is a flowering evergreen shrub native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The US Drug Enforcement Administration notes that the plant is used for its stimulant-like effects, which speed up messages between the brain and the body. Most users chew the buds and leaves, though some drink it brewed or smoke the dried leaves.

Authorities have not disclosed the specific locations where the product was sold or the total volume of the operation. They also did not state whether arrests were made or if the mislabeled substance resulted in any overdoses. The police statement described the practice as a grave issue because it exposes the public to health risks without their knowledge.

The US National Institutes of Health compares the effects of khat to those of cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine. By selling a strong synthetic stimulant under the guise of a natural product, the operation bypassed consumer expectations regarding potency and safety, according to police.