Federal authorities have broken up what they say is the largest Khat (or Qat) distribution ring in the United States after an 18-month investigation. A total of 44 people have been indicted, with 30 arrests having been made in a series of raids by law enforcement officers from the likes of the DEA, FBI and local police. The alleged drug ring has been accused of bringing in about 25 tons of the leafy stimulant from East Africa in recent years.

From all news accounts, that is what is generally accepted as being fact. But when it comes to possible terrorist ties and the danger the drug poses, there is an at times absurd variance between what different news organisations reported. ABC and NBC4 in particular were not very helpful.

Terrorist Ties

The Boston Globe ran a piece from the Associated Press in which FBI agent Mark Mershon was quoted – near the end of the article – as saying that in the next step of the operation they would “follow the money” back to East Africa:

Mershon said some of the areas involved have attracted attention as “a hotbed for Sunni extremism,” and there have been some reports that terror groups and regional warlords have financed their campaigns through khat sales.

Authorities added, though, that none of the 44 charged Wednesday had any known link to terrorism.

In contrast, ABC News got straight to the alleged terrorist-links:

The use of Khat, whose sale has ties to terrorists, has had devastating effects in East African immigrant communities … A money trail from its sale leads back to terror strongholds in Yemen, Somalia and Kenya … FBI officials noted that while no one had been charged with a terror offense, the task force was “eager” to embark on a second phase of the investigation — “tracking the illicit proceeds … “Nightline” has learned that an investigation into several terror lords appears to clearly link them to the drug ring … Law enforcement and counterterrorism experts in at least four countries have been working on the investigation.

While that investigation might very well turn out to “clearly link” terror lords to the drug ring, one would think that until it has been tranformed into somewhat more concrete action on the part of authorities, ABC would be more circumspect about the certainty of these “ties” in their piece, not to mention the reference to unnamed “experts”. After all, if there are such clear links why are the 44 indicted not being charged with these offences? If there are good reasons for them not being charged, why doesn’t ABC mention them?

FoxNews.com used the same Associated Press story but omitted all references to terror lords.

NBC 4 from Columbus, Ohio concentrated briefly on its own city being one of the targets for the drug bust but had no mention of terrorist ties.

Dangers

The Boston Globe quoted New York DEA special agent John Gilbride as saying it was “highly addictive and devastating” to users. The Globe took the middle ground:

Medical studies have yet to conclude how bad khat can be to someone’s health, but some research has linked it to depression, hyperactivity or hallucinations among longtime users.

ABC News opened its piece by labelling Khat a “dangerous” drug that has had “devastating effects in East African immigrant communities”, providing no evidence in support of its allegations.

FoxNews.com concluded its piece as the Globe did, noting the “medical studies”, but also went into a little more detail about attitudes to Khat in other parts of the world:

Users chew it, like loose tobacco, and generally experience a mild buzz that lasts for about 90 minutes. It can cause an elevated heart rate and blood pressure, as well as a feeling of euphoria.

In some non-Arab or African countries where the drug has made a showing, it is viewed as a social ill, albeit an acceptable one. England considered a ban on khat this year, but decided against it.

It is illegal in the U.S. because it can contain two controlled substances: cathonine, which is found in very fresh khat leaves, or cathine, a less potent chemical that turns up once the plant dries.

And finally, from the sublime to the ridiculous, NBC 4 described Khat as “lethal”.

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