Jordan sees 9% drop in drug-related cases — AND chief

AMMAN — Drug-related cases decreased by 9 per cent from the beginning of the year until June 26, 2022, compared with the same period of 2021, according to Anti-Narcotics Department's (AND) Director Hassan Qudah. 

Speaking to Al Mamlaka TV on Sunday, Qudah said that a total of 8489 drug-related cases were handled this year, including 2,490 cases of drug trafficking and some 6,000 cases of drug use 

In 2021, a total of 19,122 drug-related cases were reported, out of which 4,858 were trafficking cases and 14,264 drug use cases, he said.

Qudah noted that 29,000 individual were arrested last year in connection with drug trafficking and use.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Jordan is a transit state for drugs, he said, noting that an increase in drug use was reported in the last four to five years. 

The highest rate of drug users is among the ages of 18-27, he said, adding a total of 146 university students were arrested in 2021 for drug abuse violations.