A 28-year-old man from the Netherlands has been arrested near the German city of Oldenburg for transporting 1,700 kilos of khat plants in a rented van. German police have confiscated the plants, which have an estimated street value of around 100,000 euros.

Khat is legal in the Netherlands but is banned in neighbouring countries. It is mainly used by members of the Somali and Yemeni communities. Users chew the tops and leaves of the plant, which act as a stimulant and suppress tiredness and hunger.

(dd)

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