Drug crime on the rise — report

AMMAN — The 2019 criminal statistics report issued by the Criminal Information Department showed that drug crime, including dealing, possession and abuse, increased by 6 per cent during 2019, according to a statement issued by Solidarity is Global Institute (SIGI).

A total of 19,500 crimes were recorded, compared with 18,400 in 2018, including 3,141 drug-dealing crimes and 16,359 drug possession and use crimes. 

SIGI noted that the number of drug-dealing crimes increased by 3 per cent in 2019 — with 3,141 cases compared with 3,050 in 2018 — and drug possession and abuse crimes increased by 6.5 per cent, standing at 16,359 cases compared with 15,350 in 2018.

SIGI said that one of the main reasons for the rise in recorded crimes is due to the “great efforts” exerted by the Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) in detecting these crimes through "modern means", especially at border crossings.

However, this rise indicates “the seriousness of the phenomenon and the necessity of joining forces”, official and unofficial, to reduce it and prevent its occurrence completely.

The report showed that overall, the number of drug crimes committed by juveniles increased by 42.2 per cent, as 482 crimes were recorded in 2019 compared with 339 crimes in 2018.

The number of drug-dealing crimes by juveniles increased by 35.6 per cent, with 80 crimes recorded in 2018 compared with 59 crimes in 2018.

The number of crimes related to the possession and abuse of drugs increased by 43.6 per cent, with 402 crimes recorded in 2019 compared with 280 crimes in 2018.

The report also showed that the number of drug-related crimes committed by foreigners decreased by 1.1 per cent, with 1,527 cases in 2019 compared with 1,544 in 2018.

The number of drug-dealing crimes committed by foreigners also decreased by 12.3 per cent, with 171 crimes committed in 2019 compared with 195 in 2018.

Cases of drug possession and drug use by foreigners increased by 0.5 per cent, with 1,356 in 2019 compared with 1,349 in 2018. 

SIGI added that, although women constitute only a small percentage of the total number — the report does not show numbers regarding gender — they suffer from the devastating health, social and economic effects of drugs, which reflect negatively on them, their families and societies.

Drug crimes committed by the males in their families increase the rate of women’s exposure to physical, sexual and psychological violations and put the future of their families at risk, which makes family disintegration and the collapse of the family a possibility in some instances and an inevitably in others.