Syria's foreign ministry recently commented on one of the most serious and pressing problems in the Middle East: its role in the regional drug trade and the infiltration of criminal gangs along its border with Jordan.
It largely mirrored a statement made by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last August, expressing regret over his country's role in the Middle East drug trade and admitting that it served as a distribution point and blaming other countries for the problems within his borders.
At the time, observers viewed the admission of Damascus's inability to crack down on the trade as proof of its increasing weakness.
Amman caught off-guard
However, the recent statement contained some new claims that caught Jordan off-guard. It accused Amman of indifference to Syria's proposals for border management and claimed Damascus's attempts at communication were met with silence, implying a snub from Jordanian authorities.
The statement shocked authorities in Amman, who believe Damascus is the one that has not been unresponsive.
Jordan has repeatedly complained that its appeals for border cooperation have been largely ignored. It accuses Damascus of turning a blind eye to a growing criminal and terrorist network operating along its southern border with Jordan.
Deciding enough was enough, Jordan last year began conducting air strikes in southern Syria to deal with the drug threat itself. On 18 December, its army launched a massive security operation against drug traffickers — the largest of its kind.
Read more: Jordan takes its war on drugs to Syria
The timing of the Syrian statement has raised eyebrows in Jordan. Sources in the country believe it is an attempt to proactively address the prospects of further Jordanian air strikes in southern Syria.
They targeted smuggling hubs equipped with advanced technology, which led to the capture of smugglers deep inside Syrian territory. Now in Jordan’s custody, key intelligence can be extracted from these criminals.
Expanded operations
The smuggling crisis along the border is intensifying in scale, extending beyond the rampant drug trade that has already flooded Jordanian streets, creating a serious social problem.
Sources indicate that these operations now include weapons smuggling. The objective appears to be to smuggle munitions into the hands of militia groups backed by Iran.
There are also disturbing reports of organ trafficking.
