SIXTY tons of a drug linked to al-Qaeda is imported into the UK every week and openly used by addicts — because it is not illegal here.
The green leaves of the plant khat are flown in from Kenya and then chewed by users at dens across Britain. The leaves give a high similar to that produced by amphetamines and side effects including disorientation and hallucination. Khat is widely used in Somalia and neighbouring African countries. And although banned in the US, Canada, France and Germany it is still legal here — a fact that has made Britain the centre of a thriving import trade.
Anti-khat campaigners say Somali-based Islamic extremists al-Shabaab use cash from khat sales to fund terrorism. And they claim the al-Qaeda linked militants recruit directly from the UK’s khat dens, ensnaring youngsters who have become hooked on the drug.
