U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell imposed the sentence Wednesday on Patrick Bahati, who tried to pick up a shipment of khat in December in Salt Lake City.
Khat - a flowery evergreen shrub native to east Africa and the Arabian Peninsula - typically is chewed and offers a high similar to that of methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. Authorities believe the drugs were intended to be distributed among African immigrants in Salt Lake County.
Investigators say the chopped green leaves were flown to the United States in December from Ethiopia in two shipments totaling 431 pounds and then taken by truck to Salt Lake City. The shipments allegedly were marked as spices for personal use and bound for a Holladay residence.
A U.S. Customs agent thought the large amount was unusual for personal use and took a closer look. A spokesman has said the drug seizure was the largest ever by customs officials in Salt Lake City.
A third shipment allegedly arrived earlier, in October. As part of a plea deal, Bahati admitted conspiring to import 676 pounds of khat into the U. S.
Another defendant, Sherif Sherif, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced on May 21 to time served. The case is pending against a third defendant.
