‘Border Guards facilitated entry of 17,000 Syrian refugees last year’

AMMAN — The Border Guards in 2015 received a total of 16,997 Syrian refugees, offering them the necessary assistance and transporting them to camps, according to an official source at the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF). 

Also last year, JAF personnel stationed on the borders confiscated huge amounts of weapons, ammunition and narcotics of different kinds and foiled many infiltration attempts, the source said Monday.

According to the statement, the troops seized 1,473 pieces of various weapons, and 6,659 bullets. 

The army also highlighted its contribution to anti-narcotic efforts, announcing that it responded to trafficking attempts that resulted in the confiscation of 16,768,684 Captagon pills, 893,060 palm-sized sheets of hashish and 20,000 Tramadol pills.

The source added that the army recorded 85 cases of infiltration attempts involving 132 people.

The source reiterated that JAF “will use all available means to deter anyone who attempts to mess with the Kingdom's national security, despite intentions”.

The border units announce all actions taken against infiltrators, who are reportedly either smugglers or terrorists trying to sneak into Syria or into Jordan from the northern neighbour.

Army statements customarily stress that troops deal with the situation in accordance with the rules of engagement and stress that JAF would use the necessary force to protect the country’s borders.