A Minnesota man was arrested Tuesday on drug charges involving a plant native to Africa.

The North Central Iowa Narcotics Task Force says in the course of an ongoing narcotics investigation, they arrested 38-year-old Dayax Abdi Ahmed of Apple Valley near the intersection of Interstate 35 and State Highway 105 near Northwood.

They say Ahmed was found to be in possession of multiple pounds of “khat” with an estimated street value of $8,000.

It’s a flowering plant that is native to the Horn of Africa that contains an amphetamine-like stimulant which is said to cause euphoria and manic behaviors. It’s mainly ingested by chewing the plant.

Khat is a Schedule One controlled substance. Ahmed is being held in the Worth County Jail.

By Bob Fisher, KRIB, Mason City