Somalia bans police officers from chewing khat

MOGADISHU, Somalia, May 18, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Federal Government of Somalia for the first time banned police officers from chewing mild stimulant, Khat in step towards tight discipline, Garowe Online reports.

Somalia Police Force Commander-in-Chief Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud said at a police academy in Mogadishu that the green leaves, traditionally chewed in the East African country are detrimental to the discipline of officers on tour of duty.

“Any police officer whom [we] find Khat in his pockets will be warned initially, secondly he would face punishment and for the third time he will be charged at military court,” Hamud told Police.

Khat traders in neighboring Kenya and Ethiopia are dependent on millions of dollars from Somalia sales.

Somalia’s battered army is known for narcotic leaves, with many users chewing for increased attention. 

GAROWE ONLINE