Five suspects detained for ‘involvement in drug making’

AMMAN — The authorities have arrested five men who were allegedly manufacturing illegal narcotics known in the local market as "joker", an official said on Saturday.

The five men were arrested following a raid on two apartments in an east Amman neighbourhood led by Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) agents, a senior official source said.

"The department received a tip a few weeks ago that the group was manufacturing illegal narcotics by using dangerous, poisonous and cancerous substances," the source said.

The suspects were monitored by AND agents and arrested following the raid, he added, noting that no one was injured in the operation.

"A search of the apartments yielded 3,000 bags of the illegal substance known in the market as ‘joker’, the official explained.

Agents also found various chemical substances and equipment believed to be used in "illegal drug operations", the source added.

The suspects are being questioned by authorities and are expected to be "referred to the State Security Court prosecution for further questioning", he said.