Over 2.3 tons of Khat leaves still have not been handled

	Discover tons of Khat leaves inside imported container
	Detecting dried leaves were suspected as Khat leaves imported from Kenya to Vietnam
	70kg of dried leaves suspected as Khat leaves detected in a shipment

Khat leaves were sized by Ha Noi Customs Department in collaboration with other competent agencies. Photo: N.L

In the middle of 2016, after monitoring the situation and gathering information of competent forces under Ha Noi Customs Department, Director of Ha Noi Customs Department decided to establish the E316 investigation in collaboration with Anti-Smuggling and Investigation Department under the General Department of Vietnam Customs and other units under the Ministry of Public Security for fighting. 210 packages with a total weight of 2,232 kg Khat leaves which contained drug was detected and seized.

The results of verification showed that the shipment of Khat leaves contains the cathinone-a serious drug in the list of narcotics which are absolutely banned from use in medicine and social living under the Government’s Decree 82/2013/ND-CP promulgating the list of narcotics and pre-substances.

Until now, after 1 year of being detected and seized, although the Investigation Police Department of Drug under the Ministry Public Security investigated and verified the case, it cannot verify the consignee for prosecution. Therefore, Ha Noi Customs Department issued a decision on temporary custody and management of the shipment due to not transferring the exhibits to the police agency as per regulations of the Criminal law.

For the establishment of the State’s ownership, the Ha Noi People’s Committee said that there is not enough legal framework to confirm the shipment under the confiscation right of the Committee because the value of exhibits cannot be determined.

Ha Noi Customs Department said that if confiscating this shipment, the Department has to transfer the shipment to specialized management agency to manage and handle as per Clause c, Article 82 of the Law on the handling of administrative violations. Currently, although proposing many times, Ha Noi Customs Department cannot transfer this shipment to Ha Noi City Police.

Nearly 1,9 tons of Khat leaves imported illegally via postal services VNC - According to the Anti-drug Enforcement Team– Customs Department of Ho Chi Minh City, applying the ...

Hence, in order to handle the shipment of Khat leaves in accordance with provisions of the law and remove obstacles of not transferring the shipment to State agency, Ha Noi Customs Department is proposing to the General Department of Vietnam Customs to permit to issue the decision on destruction under provision in Clause 6, Article 126 of Law on handling of administrative violations on the handling of temporarily seized material evidence and/or means, permits, professional practice certificates according to administrative procedures

For the destruction, Hanoi Customs Department will contact the Department of Judgment Enforcement for support of the establishment of the Destruction Council (including the Department of Judgment Enforcement, Public Security, People's Court, People's Procuracy) and destroy in accordance with the law.