Goods Across Borders · Customs rule card
Khat → Singapore
Purpose: Traveling · Verified: 2026-08-22
Khat prohibited; penalties for import
Details
Khat prohibited; penalties for import. Enforcement in Singapore carries fines from SGD 10,000 to SGD 500,000 and imprisonment up to 20 years in aggravated cases under Customs Act 1960 s.130; Misuse of Drugs Act 1973. Because khat is prohibited rather than restricted, there is no permit route for an ordinary traveller — attempted import is treated as smuggling regardless of intent. Arrival checks are carried out by Singapore Customs; when in doubt use the declare (red) channel — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods attract penalties. Leaving Singapore with khat is a separate question: prohibited — Khat is a controlled substance in Singapore — cathinone scheduling means there is no lawful personal export.
Leaving with this item
Khat is a controlled substance in Singapore — cathinone scheduling means there is no lawful personal export.
Practical advice
Do not carry khat (Catha edulis), fresh or dried, into Singapore. Singapore Customs treats it as a controlled drug; carriage triggers seizure plus possible criminal charge under the local misuse-of-drugs statute. There is no permit pathway for personal use.
Customs authority
Singapore Customs · https://www.customs.gov.sg