Khat → 🇺🇸 United States

Full details

Khat prohibited; penalties for import. Enforcement in United States carries fines from USD 500 to USD 500,000 and imprisonment up to 20 years in aggravated cases under 18 USC § 545 (smuggling); Controlled Substances Act 21 USC § 841. 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 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); when in doubt use the declare (red) channel — declared goods at worst attract duty or surrender, while undeclared goods attract penalties. Leaving United States with khat is a separate question: prohibited — Khat is a controlled substance in United States — cathinone scheduling means there is no lawful personal export.

ENFORCEMENT

Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.

Leaving United States with khat

Khat (Catha edulis) contains cathinone and cathine, which are scheduled substances in United States under 21 USC § 956 (personal-use exception); DEA Diversion regulations — 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.

OFFICIAL SOURCES · VERIFIED 2026-08-22