AMMAN
— Security expert Saud Al-Sharafat said that the latest wave of drug smuggling witnessed
organized operations of groups affiliated with militias in Syria, which are
certainly affiliated with Iran and Hezbollah, and work in coordination with the
Syrian army.
اضافة اعلان
On
Thursday, the
Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) said that drug trafficking
from Syria into Jordan is becoming "organized" with smugglers
stepping up operations and using sophisticated equipment including drones. It
warned that it is now adopting a shoot-to-kill policy, according to AFP.
Since
the beginning of this year, the JAF has killed 30 smugglers and foiled attempts
to smuggle into the Kingdom from Syria 16 million Captagon pills — more than
they seized in the whole of 2021 — the military said.
Sharafat
said it is obvious that there is cooperation, on the
Syrian side, with
smugglers, and “we can confirm this by noting the increase in drug smuggling in
the past few months and the smugglers' insistence on bringing in drugs in any
way and in large quantities, in addition to smuggling weapons.”
Sharafat
said that Jordan acted instantly and showed seriousness in dealing with the
issue, especially through the “new rules of engagement”, and highlighted the
support given by His Majesty
King Abdullah to the Border Guards through his
visit last Monday to the eastern front.
Sharafat
said that smuggling operations may be expected to decrease in the coming months
because of the JAF’s new measures, adding that smugglers had found the
Jordanian border with Syria “most suitable” due to the geography, including the
rugged desert region, and the long borders.
He
also noted that smuggling groups have an interest in putting pressure on Jordan
politically.
Political
researcher
Hamada Faraaneh said: “When examining the extent of smuggling on the
Jordanian-Syrian border, we notice that Jordan’s market is targeted first,” and
that through the Kingdom, goods penetrate Gulf countries.
Faraaneh
said that the motives may be commercial and political, and that smuggling may
be a way of finding sources of funding in support of extremist organizations.
Faraaneh
added that Jordan is aware of all the ramifications of the smuggling operations,
hence its decision to confront these groups and change the rules of engagement;
adding that it is too early to determine the parties supporting the smuggling groups.
Political
analyst
Amer Al-Sabaileh said that by changing the rules of engagement, Jordan
sends a clear message that it does not accept to be a transit area for drugs.
“This
battle may take several forms because the phenomenon of smuggling and drug
trafficking is rooted in the region,” he said, stressing that smuggling
operations have huge political and security dimensions.
“What
is required is not to leave the army alone to prevent illegal entry into Jordan;
the security and intelligence services have an important role to play as well,”
said Sabaileh, adding that there is need for a strategy to stop the smuggling
into Jordanian territory.
“What
worries me is that Jordan will turn into a drug consumer, and not stay a
transit area only,” he said.
Jordan
is chosen as a transit area for drug smugglers mainly because of its geographical
advantages, said Sabaileh, adding that the bad economic situation plays a major
role as well, and calling for a wise and balanced diplomacy to deal with the
matter.
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