The Jordanian authorities have intercepted quantities of drugs being smuggled from Syria into Jordan in recent days after a period of calm on the borders that did not last long.
The Jordanian authorities announced today, Friday, December 15, the foiling of an attempt to smuggle “large” quantities of drugs coming from Syrian territories during an operation carried out by the Eastern Military Region, marking the third of its kind in a week.
According to Al-Mamlaka TV channel, quoting a military source, border guard forces observed a group of smugglers attempting to illegally cross the border from Syria to Jordan. Rapid reaction patrols were deployed and engaged in direct shooting, resulting in the injury of some of the smugglers and the escape of others into Syrian territory.
The source revealed that 278,000 Captagon pills and 1,739 cannabis bags were found, and the confiscated items were handed over to the competent authorities.
This smuggling attempt comes one day after a similar one, as Jordan announced on Thursday the foiling of a drug smuggling operation coming from Syria through the same military zone.
Border guard forces found 446,000 Captagon pills, 1,439 cannabis bags, a Kalashnikov firearm, and quantities of ammunition in that attempt.
At that time, a Jordanian military source indicated that armed groups along the border were taking advantage of bad weather conditions, fog, and rugged terrain in the area to carry out smuggling operations and illegally cross the borders into Jordan.
An armed clash also took place between the Jordanian border guard forces and a group of smugglers on December 12 along the northern border with Syria.
Escalating situation
This incident was preceded by the killing of three smugglers during the foiling of an attempt to smuggle quantities of drugs from Syrian territories.
233,000 Captagon pills and 528 cannabis bags were found, and the confiscated items were handed over to the competent authorities.
As drug smuggling operations from Syria continue, the Ministry of Interior in the Syrian regime’s government continues to announce the arrest of individuals involved in this trade.
At the same time, neighboring countries continue their efforts to limit these smuggling operations. On November 1, the 37th Arab Conference of Heads of Drug Control Agencies was held in the Jordanian capital, Amman, organized by the General Secretariat of the Arab Interior Ministers’ Council (AIMC).
The Jordanian Minister of Interior, Mazen al-Faraya, praised the role played by drug control agencies in Arab countries in confronting and combating this menace to prevent attempts to cultivate, produce, and smuggle drugs in the Arab region and the world, as reported by the Jordanian Public Security Directorate.
The Jordanian Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, warned last Wednesday of the continued attempts to smuggle drugs and weapons from Syria into Jordan.
Safadi said that Jordan would take all “necessary” steps to prevent threats to its national security, “including striking and pursuing criminals who pose a threat to Jordan’s security wherever they may be,” and that the individuals responsible for the attack that occurred last Tuesday “will not escape punishment.”