Two young chareidi women from Israel were arrested at Poland’s Krakow Airport after authorities allegedly discovered approximately 50 kilograms of khat in their luggage, exposing what advocates say is a growing pattern of young Israelis being recruited as drug couriers by smuggling networks.
The women, ages 23 and 24, arrived on a direct flight from Israel and were detained immediately upon landing Friday, according to a report published Tuesday. They now face criminal proceedings in Poland, which is considered among the strictest European countries when it comes to the importation of khat, a substance classified there as an illegal drug.
The incident has once again drawn attention to criminal organizations that reportedly target young men and women—often from the chareidi community—and persuade them to transport khat into Europe, where demand for the plant remains high and profits can be substantial.
According to reports, recruiters entice potential couriers by offering free airfare and promising cash payments of roughly 5,000 shekels in exchange for carrying luggage containing the substance.
To ease concerns, the organizers allegedly assure participants that the risks are minimal, claiming that even if they are stopped by customs officials, the worst outcome would be the confiscation of their luggage or a relatively small fine that the smuggling network would cover.
Attorneys familiar with such cases say those promises bear little resemblance to reality.
Attorney Mordechai Tzivin, who has represented Israelis arrested in Europe on khat-smuggling charges, told Ynet that “the concept of ‘at worst they’ll confiscate my suitcase and send me home’ has completely collapsed in recent years.”
According to Tzivin, Poland and several other European countries treat the importation of khat as a serious criminal offense. Once suspicious luggage is discovered, suspects are often arrested immediately and held in detention facilities for extended periods—sometimes weeks or even months—before formal legal proceedings begin.
Legal experts say Polish authorities intentionally employ lengthy pretrial detention as both a deterrent and a punitive measure aimed at discouraging future smuggling attempts from Israel.
For those who agree to participate in such operations, the consequences can be devastating. Many find themselves isolated from their families, incarcerated in a foreign country under difficult conditions, and confronting an unfamiliar legal system, only to realize too late that they were lured into a scheme that may permanently alter the course of their lives.
