HCSO consults with DEA, immigration services following traffic stop
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Four men are being held at the Highland County Justice Center while tests are being conducted to find out if they were in possession of a drug known as "khat," and the Highland County Sheriff's Office has consulted with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE) pending test results.
Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward told The Highland County Press Thursday that his department made a stop on a vehicle at approximately 5:45 a.m. Thursday after the vehicle's occupants were seen allegedly acting "in a very suspicious manner" at Speedway on North High Street in Hillsboro. The traffic stop was made on North High Street near Sherwood Drive.
"They stopped the car and recovered an unknown substance," Ward said. "The vehicle was registered in Louisiana, and it's a rental car. Inside were four male occupants, one from Somalia, and three from Ethiopia. We are in the process of testing the materials. It was hand-delivered to BCI (Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation) and they are processing it. We believe it's a drug known as khaat or khat (pronounced 'cot')."
Ward said that "khat" is a schedule one controlled substance.
"We've never seen it here in Highland County," Ward said. "It has been detected in Columbus previously. We don't know for sure if that's what it is, but it is known to be used by Somalis and Ethiopians. We have no field testing material for that type of drug. It was hand-carried to BCI this morning. We have been in touch with (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) and customs to research the citizenship status of the four individuals. It appears that they are here legally, at this point, on temporary visas. No charges have been filed. We are simply holding them for investigation at this point."
Ward said that one individual has an Ohio driver's license out of Franklin County and three individuals have drivers' licenses out of Texas.
Ward said they have not determined why the individuals were in Highland County.
According to wikipedia, "khat" is plant native to the African continent, where it is cultivated, and when consumed causes an amphetamine-like stimulation and euphoria."
Four men are being held at the Highland County Justice Center while tests are being conducted to find out if they were in possession of a drug known as "khat," and the Highland County Sheriff's Office has consulted with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE) pending test results.
Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward told The Highland County Press Thursday that his department made a stop on a vehicle at approximately 5:45 a.m. Thursday after the vehicle's occupants were seen allegedly acting "in a very suspicious manner" at Speedway on North High Street in Hillsboro. The traffic stop was made on North High Street near Sherwood Drive.
"They stopped the car and recovered an unknown substance," Ward said. "The vehicle was registered in Louisiana, and it's a rental car. Inside were four male occupants, one from Somalia, and three from Ethiopia. We are in the process of testing the materials. It was hand-delivered to BCI (Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation) and they are processing it. We believe it's a drug known as khaat or khat (pronounced 'cot')."
Ward said that "khat" is a schedule one controlled substance.
"We've never seen it here in Highland County," Ward said. "It has been detected in Columbus previously. We don't know for sure if that's what it is, but it is known to be used by Somalis and Ethiopians. We have no field testing material for that type of drug. It was hand-carried to BCI this morning. We have been in touch with (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) and customs to research the citizenship status of the four individuals. It appears that they are here legally, at this point, on temporary visas. No charges have been filed. We are simply holding them for investigation at this point."
Ward said that one individual has an Ohio driver's license out of Franklin County and three individuals have drivers' licenses out of Texas.
Ward said they have not determined why the individuals were in Highland County.
According to Wikipedia, "khat" is plant native to the African continent, where it is cultivated, and when consumed causes an "amphetamine-like stimulation" and "euphoria."
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