Officers from the Customs Service yesterday seized 500kg of the drug khat with an estimated street value of €1.27 million.
The drug was seized at Dublin Airport. It was found in air freight which originated in London, and was bound for New York via Dublin.
It is believed yesterday's seizure was only the third time a quantity of khat had been seized in the State. There were no arrests, but investigations were continuing last night.
Khat is almost exclusively used by north-eastern Africans, mainly Somalis, Kenyans and Ethiopians. It is a natural amphetamine, and causes erratic and occasionally violent behaviour.
Shipments of the drug are regularly taken to New York for consumption by Somali, Ethiopian and Kenyan nationals there.
Khat has been banned in Ireland since 1990. It has a very short shelf life and loses its potency in a matter of days if not used.
In its original form khat is legal in Britain, although its extract is not. The drug comes in leaf form and is chewed. It gives users a similar high to that achieved by taking amphetamines.
The first seizure of the drug in Ireland took place in February 1996 at Shannon Airport.
