Jordan: Smuggling of 'large shipment' of drugs thwarted via border crossing with Syria

Amman (Agencies): Jordanian authorities thwarted, yesterday, an attempt to smuggle two million drug pills through the Jaber border crossing with Syria, just days after the crossing was reopened following its closure in the wake of Jordanian airstrikes targeting sites in southern Syria. A spokesperson for the Jordanian Public Security Directorate said in a statement that officers at the Jaber crossing, in coordination with Jordanian Customs and security agencies, successfully foiled the smuggling attempt and seized the quantity. He also clarified that suspicion arose regarding a cargo vehicle after intelligence reports were received; the vehicle was intercepted immediately upon its attempted entry and thoroughly searched, revealing two million drug pills hidden in secret compartments specially prepared inside the vehicle for this purpose. He noted that the shipment was intended for re-smuggling into one of the neighboring countries, adding that investigations into the case have been launched. The thwarted smuggling attempt comes amid a series of security developments along the Jordan-Syria border, as efforts to smuggle drugs and infiltrate across the border continue, coinciding with tensions that have marked the region in recent days.