Jordan intercepts largest drug shipment in years containing terror drugs

Jordanian authorities have successfully thwarted the largest attempt to smuggle drugs through the kingdom in recent years. The cargo was being transported from Syria to the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, and it is suspected that a smuggling network operating in southern Syria is linked to the Iranian regime.

Law enforcement authorities in Jordan had been monitoring two groups of drug traffickers for weeks. Typically, detentions are made at the kingdom’s border with Syria, but this time the criminals were apprehended at a checkpoint leading to Saudi Arabia. Millions of Captagon tablets were found hidden in heavy construction equipment, according to Reuters.

The production of Captagon experienced significant growth between 2011 and 2013 in Syria, driven by the need for psychostimulants by belligerents in the civil war. The drug allowed soldiers to stay alert and react quickly to changing situations. Additionally, the Syrian state faced financial challenges due to the ongoing civil war and Western sanctions, making Captagon production a lucrative venture.

In 2022, revenues from Captagon exports from Syria were estimated at approximately $30 billion. The drug has become increasingly popular in the Gaza Strip and was used by terrorists in an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The involvement of Syrian and Lebanese citizens, including individuals linked to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in the production and distribution of illegal Captagon has led to international sanctions.

Overall, the interception of the drug smuggling operation in Jordan sheds light on the complex network of production, distribution, and financing that contributes to the global trade in illicit substances.