Caught with kaht: Grand Island Police say they found 13 pounds of exotic drug

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A traffic stop in Grand Island on Tuesday yielded a large amount of an exotic drug.

About 3:30 a.m., officers pulled over a vehicle that violated a stop sign, according to the Grand Island Police Department.

Police said the driver, Said Hassan, tried to run off but was quickly caught.

Officers then searched his vehicle, where they said they found about 13 pounds of khat.

About 5 pounds was individually packaged and ready for sale, according to GIPD.

Khat is a plant native to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

The Drug Enforcement Administration said it can cause manic behavior, including delusions, hallucinations and nightmares.

Hassan was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and obstructing a police officer.