Drug found during traffic stop positive for 'khat'
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Four individuals who were detained last week on suspicion of being in possession of a schedule 1 controlled substance were released over the weekend, but could face indictment following a meeting of a grand jury.
The Highland County Sheriff's Office consulted last week with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after an individual from Somalia and three individuals from Ethiopia were taken into custody following a traffic stop. Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward said that his department made a stop on a vehicle at approximately 5:45 a.m. Thursday after the vehicle's occupants were seen allegedly acting "in a very suspicious manner" at Speedway on North High Street in Hillsboro. The traffic stop was made on North High Street near Sherwood Drive.
During a search of the vehicle a substance believed to be a drug known as khaat or khat (pronounced 'cot') was discovered. The HCSO does not have field testing equipment for the drug, so it was sent to BCI (Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation) for processing. Ward said that BCI did not return the results until Monday, and that the substance was positive for khat.
However, Ward said that they could not hold the individuals over the weekend, and they were released Friday.
Ward said the department consulted with ICE, but that the four men were in the U.S. legally on work visas.
"On Friday we consulted with the prosecutor's office and it will go through the grand jury system," Ward said. "The grand jury will hear the case, and I am confident they will return an indictment."
According to Wikipedia, "khat" is a plant native to the African continent, where it is cultivated, and when consumed causes an "amphetamine-like stimulation" and "euphoria."
Four individuals who were detained last week on suspicion of being in possession of a schedule 1 controlled substance were released over the weekend but could face indictment following a meeting of a grand jury.
The Highland County Sheriff's Office consulted last week with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after an individual from Somalia and three individuals from Ethiopia were taken into custody following a traffic stop. Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward said that his department made a stop on a vehicle at approximately 5:45 a.m. Thursday after the vehicle's occupants were seen allegedly acting "in a very suspicious manner" at Speedway on North High Street in Hillsboro. The traffic stop was made on North High Street near Sherwood Drive.
During a search of the vehicle a substance believed to be a drug known as khaat or khat (pronounced 'cot') was discovered. The HCSO does not have field testing equipment for the drug, so it was sent to BCI (Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation) for processing. Ward said that BCI did not return the results until Monday, and that the substance was positive for khat.
However, Ward said that they could not hold the individuals over the weekend, and they were released Friday.
Ward said the department consulted with ICE, but that the four men were in the U.S. legally on work visas.
"On Friday, we consulted with the prosecutor's office, and it will go through the grand jury system," Ward said. "The grand jury will hear the case, and I am confident they will return an indictment."
According to Wikipedia, "khat" is a plant native to the African continent, where it is cultivated, and when consumed causes an "amphetamine-like stimulation" and "euphoria."
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