Khat 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Khat prohibited; penalties for import
Can I bring Khat into United Kingdom?
Khat prohibited; penalties for import
Required at the destination customs authority
Full details
Khat prohibited; penalties for import. Importing khat carries imprisonment of up to 14 years on conviction on indictment (Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, Schedule 1, Class C drugs). 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 His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC); when in doubt use the declare (red) channel — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods attract penalties. Leaving United Kingdom with khat is a separate question: prohibited — Khat is a controlled substance in United Kingdom — cathinone scheduling means there is no lawful personal export.
PENALTIES
- Fine: no upper limit set by the statute
- Imprisonment up to 168 months
- Criminal penalty
Khat is a Class C controlled drug. Importing it in breach of the prohibition carries up to 14 years' imprisonment, a penalty of any amount, or both, on conviction on indictment.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, s.3(1) — the import prohibition
“the importation of a controlled drug; and (b) the exportation of a controlled drug, are hereby prohibited.”legislation.gov.uk
Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Schedule 2 — khat, listed in Part III (Class C drugs)
“"khat" means the leaves, stems or shoots of the plant of the species Catha edulis;”legislation.gov.uk
Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, Schedule 1 para. 2 — Class C drugs
“on conviction on indictment, to a penalty of any amount, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, or to both.”legislation.gov.uk
Penalty sources checked 2026-09-19.
Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.
Leaving United Kingdom with khat
Khat (Catha edulis) contains cathinone and cathine, which are scheduled substances in United Kingdom under Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001; Home Office personal-import/export licence for schedule 1-3 — fresh khat is treated as a controlled drug, so possession and export are offences. Khat found at departure screening is seized and the carrier prosecuted under the same framework as at arrival. The plant is a licit commodity only in a small number of producing countries (Ethiopia, Kenya, Yemen); everywhere in this site's coverage of this route, carrying it across the border is unlawful.
Do not carry khat (Catha edulis), fresh or dried, into United Kingdom. UK Border Force 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.
This page covers destination customs rules in United Kingdom. Whether you can carry khat through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.
Related rules
Khat rules in other countries
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🇺🇸 United States
Khat prohibited; penalties for import
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🇦🇺 Australia
Khat prohibited; penalties for import
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🇯🇵 Japan
Khat prohibited; penalties for import
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🇸🇬 Singapore
Khat prohibited; penalties for import
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🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
Khat prohibited; penalties for import
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🇩🇪 Germany
Khat prohibited; penalties for import