Tea leaf-like narcotic khat imported by Chinese drug dealers  

阿拉伯茶被指新型毒品毒效惊人 已被列入严打范围

一款名为“阿拉伯茶”的新型毒品从去年开始在中国的地下毒品市场交易中蔓延，“阿拉伯茶”学名叫“恰特草”，产于非洲，这种植物在刚摘下来新鲜的时候酷似市场上常见的苋菜，吸毒者可以直接像吃生菜一样嚼食。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- Catha edulis, also known as khat, is a kind of plant native to Africa containing a stimulant. It has been imported by drug dealers and traded at underground drug markets in China, Guangzhou Daily said on Thursday.

Featuring long-lasting euphoric effects similar to heroin, fresh leaves of the plant can be chewed or dried and made into drinks.

Fresh leaves of khat look like amaranth. When they are dried, they look like tea leaves.

Besides its camouflaged appearance, the drug's low price is another reason it is selling among drug addicts.

Fresh leaves of khat are sold at 1,000 yuan ($160) per kilogram, while the dried ones are only 400 yuan per kilogram.

The plant was introduced by drug dealers from abroad through international express delivery companies starting in 2013, and it was listed as an illegal drug by Chinese police in 2014.