18 arrested in Va. ring that trafficked 9,700 pounds of khat

Eighteen people have been charged in what prosecutors say was a khat-trafficking ring that distributed thousands of pounds of the drug in the Washington region and other areas. Authorities say the ring trafficked more than 4.4 million grams — or about 9,700 pounds — of khat. Ten people were arrested Wednesday in Northern Virginia, two in Maryland, four in New York and two in Ohio.

A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Alexandria was unsealed after they were taken into custody.