65 pounds of khat seized at Dulles Airport, New York man arrested

DULLES, Va. (7News) — A 24-year-old New York man is facing charges after Customs and Border Protection agents seized 65 pounds of the drug khat at Dulles Airport.

Bakari Wally was arrested at the airport on Thursday morning, according to a news release.

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Wally was flagged by CBP as he was returning from Morocco.

Investigators said they found the khat in his luggage with a street value of $8,000.

Khat, according to CBP, is chewed for its amphetamine-like effect. Users also boil dried khat leaves to create a stimulant tea.

CBP said there has been an increase in khat being smuggled into the area with more than 1,100 pounds seized at Dulles in August and more than 1,200 seized at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.