Anti-Narcotics Department nabs 140 suspects in July

AMMAN — The Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) has referred 140 suspects to authorities in a crackdown on drug dealers since the beginning of July, the Public Security Department (PSD) said on Monday. 

The suspects were involved in 98 cases, the PSD media department said, adding that AND personnel confiscated 1,350kg of marijuana, 32kg of synthetic cannabis, known locally as “joker”, 3,335 narcotic pills and 0.5kg of heroin this month, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

In two arrest operations, department personnel raided two homes in the southern Jordan Valley, arresting two suspects and seizing 200kg of marijuana in one raid and five suspects and 55kg of marijuana in the second raid, the PSD said.

The AND said it would continue to bring drug dealers to justice and urged the public to cooperate with its personnel, noting that citizens can report suspicious activity via WhatsApp on 0790192833 or by calling 911. 

In remarks last week, AND Director Brig. Gen. Anwar Tarawneh stressed that drugs are not manufactured in Jordan, and that the department has the modern technologies necessary to detect narcotics.

Speaking at the Friends of Police Society, Tarawneh said there are only a few cases of people using chemicals to manufacture synthetic cannabis, known locally as “joker”. 

In response, AND launched a campaign against materials and substances used to manufacture the drug, he said.