AND says 44 arrested in connection with drug-related offenses

AMMAN — The Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) said on Wednesday it had carried out 14 major raids targeting drug dealers, smugglers, and distributors, resulting in the arrest of 44 individuals. 

In a statement on Wednesday, AND said that large quantities of illicit drugs were seized during the operations, adding that someof those arrested are classified as “extremely dangerous criminals”.

Public Security Directorate spokesperson said that AND personnel have intensified their efforts in recent days to combat drug trade in the country, adding that the major operations were carried out in Amman and the Central Badia region, where security forces raided several locations linked to drug dealers and distributors. “Twelve individuals were arrested, including two who are classified as "extremely dangerous" and have criminal records. A large cache of narcotics and firearms was also confiscated during the raid.”

In the eastern city of Mafraq, a separate operation resulted in the arrest of five individuals involved in drug trafficking and distribution, among them, one suspect was found with 4 kilogrammes of hashish, the spokesperson said. 

He also said that AND had thwarted three major attempts to transport drugs out of Jordan. The first case unfolded at the Jaber border crossing [with Syria], where customs authorities intercepted a cargo vehicle carrying 800,000 narcotic pills and three firearms. “Four suspects were arrested in connection with the attempted smuggling operation.”

In another case, the spokesperson said that intelligence had led to the discovery of four individuals storing large quantities of narcotic pills in preparation for smuggling them to a neighbouring country. “Following a surveillance operation, authorities raided a storage facility in Amman, seizing 30,000 pills hidden in a secret compartment of a cargo vehicle. The four suspects were arrested.”

The third operation took place in the remote desert area in the southern port city of Aqaba, where a suspect was storing narcotic pills for smuggling, the spokesperson said, adding thatone person was arrested at the scene and 170,000 pills hidden at the location were seized.