Methamphetamine Sold as Khat Drops: Israeli Police
Laboratory tests revealed that a product marketed as a legal herbal extract contained synthetic meth, exposing users to a potent stimulant while violating local drug laws.
By Bianca Herrera ·
Consumers purchasing a product labeled as khat drops in Israel may have been ingesting methamphetamine, Israeli police announced on Sunday. The discovery marks a shift in how the public encounters synthetic stimulants, as the substance was sold under the name of a plant that is legal in its natural form.
The Israel Police and the Health Ministry's Enforcement and Inspection Division confirmed the finding after laboratory testing. The tests established that the substance contained methamphetamine, a drug commonly referred to as meth or speed. Authorities noted that the mislabeling created a specific health hazard because buyers likely believed they were consuming a natural herbal product.
Khat, known scientifically as Catha edulis, holds a unique legal status in Israel. The plant itself is legal to buy, sell, and consume when in its natural leaf form. However, any extract of the plant is entirely illegal. This regulation means that even if the drops had contained a genuine khat extract, the sale of the product would still have violated the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance.
According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration and Australia's Alcohol and Drug Foundation, khat is an evergreen shrub native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is used in traditional settings across the Middle East for its stimulant effects. The DEA states that the plant speeds up messages between the brain and the body, with effects comparable to those of cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine.
The methamphetamine found in the drops is a lab-made stimulant with a high potential for addiction, according to the US National Institutes of Health. Police officials described the practice as a grave issue because it exposes the public to health risks without their knowledge. A police statement emphasized that extracts, beverages, and capsules containing khat-derived substances are prohibited by law.
Authorities have not disclosed how they first suspected the dealers or where in Israel the product was being sold. The scale of the operation remains unknown, and police have not specified whether any arrests have been made. Officials also did not indicate whether the mislabeled substance has caused any overdoses. The Jerusalem Post has contacted Israel Police for further comment on the investigation.
The case involves the intersection of herbal tradition and synthetic drug production. While most users chew the buds and leaves of khat, a small minority drink it brewed from dried leaves or smoke the plant. The discovery of meth in drop form adds a new category to the illegal preparations, which are classified under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance alongside other extracts and capsules.
