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Saudi authorities bust 45 tons of smuggled khat

Use of the plant is widespread in Saudi Arabia, where a major drug war is taking place.
MICHAEL TEWELDE/AFP via Getty Images

Saudi authorities foiled an attempt to smuggle a massive amount of khat today. 

The Ministry of the Interior announced the seizure of 45.6 tons of khat as well as 760 kilograms (1,675 pounds) of hashish in several areas of the kingdom. Border security forces arrested 41 Saudi citizens in relation to the incident, in addition to 11 people from Ethiopia, seven from Yemen and two from Pakistan, according to a tweet from the ministry. 

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