HYDERABAD: The police arrested a Yemeni national at Puranapul on Saturday and seized a carton containing khat leaves (a narcotic substance) worth Rs 24 lakh in the international market from him.
Mangalhat inspector G Sridhar said Ahmed Obaid Mansoor alias Ahmed (54) came to Mumbai on June 22, 2011. Later, he married Sameera of Shaheen Nagar, Barkas. He got khat leaves from Yemen through air cargo on December 29 in the guise of vegetables.
Somali and Yemeni nationals chew khat leaves, as a social custom. But the World Health Organisation has classified it as a narcotic substance. Ahmed planned to sell the narcotic substance on New Year’s eve.