By Shire Abdi - Reporter
DJIBOUTI, (Dawan Africa) – Djibouti customs officers seized 5,304 kilograms of khat in Balho, Tadjourah region, after the shipment was illegally brought into the country.
Customs officers intercepted the shipment on Wednesday during an operation in Balho, which falls under the Dorra sub-prefecture in northern Djibouti.
The khat was reportedly brought into the country illegally, in violation of the regulations governing its importation and sale.
The seizure came less than 24 hours after customs officers intercepted another shipment of smuggled khat in the Said Gaban area, located between Bondara and the southern town of Dikhil.
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The successive operations highlight strengthened surveillance along major roads and border areas frequently used by networks involved in the illegal trade of goods.
Djibouti’s Director General of Customs and Indirect Taxes, Gouled Ahmed Youssouf, praised the vigilance and efforts of customs officers deployed in the areas where the operations were conducted.
He also stressed that the importation and sale of khat are subject to strict laws and regulations, warning that anyone bringing goods into the country through unauthorized routes will face penalties under the law.
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