Is Khat legal in Aceh (Indonesia)?
- Legal status
- Controlled — identical to Indonesia. Narcotics fall under NATIONAL Law 35/2009, under which cathinone (katinona) is a Golongan I narcotic; the Catha edulis plant is not named. Mechanism: NAMED (alkaloid, national law); plant grey. The Aceh Qanun Jinayat (Sharia) covers only khamr (alcohol), gambling and khalwat — NOT narcotics — so it adds NO capital exposure; khat leaf realistically sits below any Golongan-I capital threshold.
- Consequences if caught
- Handled as a national Golongan-I narcotic offence; Sharia caning applies to alcohol, not khat. Serious but with no realistic capital exposure.
- If prescribed or medical
- Khat is traditional plant material with no recognised medical use and no lawful prescription route.
- Documentation
- No lawful personal-import route; leaf caught via national Law 35/2009 cathinone control, not the Aceh Qanun.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Aceh (Indonesia)’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
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