Is Khat legal in Indonesia?
- Legal status
- Controlled. ALKALOID NAMED: cathinone (katinona) is a Golongan I narcotic under Law 35/2009; the Catha edulis plant is not named. Mechanism: NAMED (alkaloid); plant grey. Golongan-I class language allows capital trafficking penalties (Arts 113/114, non-plant form >5g), but bulky low-potency khat leaf realistically sits below any capital threshold — no realistic capital exposure.
- Consequences if caught
- High risk of arrest as a Golongan-I narcotic; capital is only conceivable at implausible bulk, so khat is a serious non-capital offence in practice.
- 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 its Golongan-I cathinone content.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with Indonesia’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
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If you’re detained or arrested abroad
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