Jordanian authorities kill drug smuggler coming from Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria (North press) – The Jordanian forces announced on Thursday the killing of a smuggler and injury of others while thwarting a drug smuggling attempt from Syrian territory.

On Dec. 12, the Jordanian Army announced that one of its border guards was killed and another was injured in an armed attack by drug smugglers on the Syrian-Jordanian border.

The Jordon News Agency said, citing an official military source, “The border guard forces, in coordination with Anti-Narcotics Department and the military security agencies, dealt with armed groups along the Kingdom’s border front, who were taking advantage of the bad weather conditions, fog formation and the rugged terrain in these areas, to carry out smuggling operations and cross Jordan’s borders illegally from Syrian territory.”

The source stated, “446,000 Captagon pills, 1,439 palm-sized sheets of hashish, a Kalashnikov firearm, and quantities of ammunition were found, and the seized items were transferred to the competent authorities.”

On Wednesday, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned of the ongoing attempts to smuggle drugs and weapons from Syria during a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Safadi asserted to Abdollahian that Jordon is ready to take “all necessary measures” to protect its national security, including fighting criminals jeopardizing Jordan’s stability.

By Saad al-Yaziji