Drone carrying crystal meth downed by Jordanian military at border with Syria
BEIRUT, Aug 13 (Reuters) – The Jordanian military intercepted and downed a drone carrying a large quantity of crystal meth as it entered Jordanian territory from neighboring Syria, according to the state news agency Petra.
Jordan has become a main transit route for the multi-billion-dollar drug trade facilitated by war-torn Syria. Western anti-narcotics officials and Washington have identified Jordan as a key foothold for Syrian-made amphetamines, in particular the drug known as captagon, en route to the oil-rich Gulf states.
A source within the Jordanian armed forces, quoted by the state news agency, stated that the military “took control of and downed” the drone. While the Jordanian military has previously intercepted drones carrying narcotics or weapons, the identification of the seized drugs as crystal meth is a rare occurrence.
In recent times, military and security officials from both Jordan and Syria have held meetings to address the growing issue of smuggling. Jordan claims that despite promises by Damascus, it has not witnessed any significant efforts to tackle the illegal trade.
Syrian authorities have not provided an immediate comment on the incident. However, in a recent interview, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied claims of Syria’s involvement in the drug trade. He emphasized that combating narcotics smuggling is a shared interest between Syria and Arab countries.
The rise in drug smuggling through the Jordan-Syria border highlights the need for increased cooperation and more robust measures to combat this illicit trade. Efforts to curb the drug trade will require joint efforts from both countries, as well as the support of international partners.
Reporting by Maya Gebeily
Editing by Ros Russell
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