A Yemen national was arrested here on Friday for allegedly procuring Khat leaves -- categorised as narcotic substance and chewing of which results in intoxication -- by air cargo and selling them to foreigners in Hyderabad.
Studying MBA
The arrested, Mohammed Ahmed Abdullah, 28, studying MBA in Sahit college, came to India on visit visa.
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He was living in the city for the past four years and completed BCA from Nizam college, said Commissioner's Task Force DCP, Ch. Ramchander.
The youngster was residing in a rented house in Sayed Aliguda in Asifnagar.
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Khat plants are grown in Yemen, Ethiopia and Somalia. Chewing Khat leaves for a high is normal in those countries but the World Health Organisation categorised the plant leaves as narcotic substance.
In the case that surfaced in city, Abdullah was obtaining Khat leaves from a person called Ram in Mumbai.
Leafy vegetables
Ram would get bundles of Khat leaves flown into India by air cargo. The senders would claim the leaves were leafy vegetables.
The accused would send the leaves by air cargo from Mumbai to Hyderabad and Abdullah would collect the cartons from the airport.
Later, he would clandestinely sell them to his select group of clients comprising foreigners at his house. On a tip-off, the TF (West) team caught the accused, seized 95 bundles of the leaves and his passport.