Jordan confronts a fresh threat in war on drugs

According to the Jordanian army, these operations have evolved from mere smuggling attempts that retreated upon detection to prolonged and violent armed clashes with border guard forces as they attempt to breach the borders despite the considerable risks involved.

This shift became evident on multiple occasions. Intense clashes occurred between smugglers and Jordanian border forces on December 12, resulting in the death of one guard and the serious injury of another. Similar violent encounters took place on 18 December, lasting for 14 consecutive hours and resulting in multiple minor to moderate injuries among the Jordanian border guard forces.

Jordanian authorities had previously informed the author that numerous detained drug smugglers were found to be under the influence of Captagon.

Armed and fearless

Beyond boosting energy, this pill instils fearlessness in its users. However, unlike previous instances, many of these smugglers now seem heavily armed, possessing sufficient ammunition for prolonged confrontations. This particular element, among various others, accounts for the heightened degree of violence aimed at the Jordanian border forces.

Moreover, some of the recently intercepted smuggling shipments have contained weapons. On 18 December, the Jordanian forces confiscated a sniper rifle, an M16 rifle, mines, and anti-armoured rockets and demolished a vehicle carrying ammunition and explosives.

A Kalashnikov rifle and large quantities of ammunition were also captured on 14 December. Recent intelligence reports have suggested that a substantial arms shipment was successfully smuggled into Jordan last week.

A new phenomenon

It is essential to underscore that arms smuggling from Syria to Jordan has not been a prevalent issue in the past. Even if some of those arms are intended for use by the smugglers during border crossings, they won't be returned to Syria after these operations are completed.

Consequently, the presence of these weapons in Jordan raises significant questions about their intended use and potential to undermine Jordanian security. Whether these arms fall into the hands of criminal organisations or terrorist groups, their presence in Jordan represents a substantial security risk.

In response to these concerning developments, the Jordanian military initiated air strikes on 18 December, targeting specific sites within Syria identified as launch pads for smuggling operations into the kingdom.

One of which attempted to target the residence of Nasser Faisal Al-Saadi in Salakhad, a militia leader known for drug trafficking and ties with the military security agency, Hezbollah, and the Fourth Division led by Maher al-Assad.

Another strike targeted the house of Shaker Al-Shuwayr, also associated with drugs and the military security agency, in the village of Um Shameh, causing material damage. The air strikes resulted in the death of five civilians, but none of the targeted drug dealers were harmed.

Counter operations fall flat

Despite bolstering its border security, Jordan's efforts have proven ineffective in stemming or reducing drug smuggling operations across its territories.

Halting these activities necessitates collaborative regional and international efforts to develop comprehensive interventions addressing the myriad dynamics and actors involved in the various stages of the drug supply chain.

Limited interventions, such as airstrikes, are unlikely to bring about sustainable change as they focus on addressing symptoms rather than the broader conflict systems within which the drug trade thrives.