Police seize illegal drug khat at Somali restaurant

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Police said they seized 180 pounds of khat, a mild narcotic leaf usually grown in Africa, and arrested four people in raids on an apartment and a Somali restaurant.

Police said they found 40 pounds of khat at the Jasira Somali restaurant and 140 pounds at the apartment Wednesday. Two people were arrested at the restaurant and two were arrested at the apartment, they said.

Restaurant owner Jama Mohamod said he doubted he would keep the business open. He said his concerns about harassment probably will lead him to close it and find someone else to run a restaurant in the building, which he owns.

The khat seized in both locations was from the same source, police said, but spokeswoman Cyndi Montgomery declined to discuss further details, saying the case remained under investigation.

Mohamod, 44, who was not present when his business was raided and had not been arrested, said Thursday he was shocked at the allegations. The two people arrested at the restaurant were his relatives, including one who recently immigrated from Somalia and doesn't speak English, he said.