The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted an international khat leaves trafficking racket in Bengaluru, seizing 160 kg of the contraband valued at approximately Rs 8 crore. This marks the largest seizure of khat in Karnataka since 2018. Investigations suggest a transnational syndicate, operating across over 20 countries, smuggled the drug from Ethiopia via Kenya. The syndicate used international postal and courier systems, camouflaging khat as tea, and employed foreign nationals residing in India on student or medical visas, assisted by local facilitators.