5 men charged after police make khat seizures

Five Edmonton men have been charged after police seized 36.64 kilograms of khat, a substance that is illegal in Canada but widely used in countries like Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen.

Police seized four stashes of the substance Monday after executing search warrants at three Edmonton homes.

The men all face charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking and importation under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

People who use khat get a mild euphoric feeling when they chew the leaves.

It is similar to what is felt by people who use cocaine or amphetamine but much less potent and lacks the initial rush caused by those two drugs, police said.

The amount of khat being imported into Canada has increased dramatically in the last five years, and organized crime is getting involved, police said.