LONDON: Jordan’s Anti-Narcotics Department arrested multiple drug dealers in a nationwide crackdown this week, amid intensified efforts to protect national security.
In the capital, Amman, police arrested two crystal meth dealers and seized 1,000 narcotic pills. In the Madaba Governorate, another dealer was detained and authorities confiscated 1 kg of crystal meth and 30 packages of hashish.
Authorities also arrested six suspects at seven locations in the Ruwaished district of Mafraq governorate, near the border with Iraq. They seized nearly 25,000 narcotic pills, smuggling balloons, and firearms during the raids. The offenders are suspected of smuggling drugs into the country using airborne balloons, according to the Petra news agency.
In separate operations, security forces arrested four drug traffickers in the Balqa Governorate, while in the Karak Governorate, authorities arrested another dealer, and seized 1,100 narcotic pills and a firearm, Petra added.
Jordan is known as a transit point for smuggling drugs that are typically bound for the Gulf countries from Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. Smugglers are increasingly employing drones and balloons, which are guided by basic devices, to transport narcotics into Jordan from neighboring countries.
In February, security forces arrested 35 suspects nationwide for drug production, dealing, and smuggling, while seizing large quantities of drugs and firearms.
