Jordan: army downs drones carrying drugs from Syria

The Jordanian army shot down two drones on Tuesday carrying drugs from Syria, Petra news agency has reported.

Troops in the Eastern Military Region intercepted the drones carrying crystal methamphetamine in quantity, explained Petra, citing a source from the Jordanian Armed Forces. The drugs were confiscated and handed over to the relevant authorities.

The army reiterated its determination to deal with any threats to the border of the Hashemite Kingdom, and any attempts to undermine national security and intimidate its citizens.

Over the past few months, Jordan has downed several drones used by drug and arms smugglers. According to Jordanian officials, the increasing use of drones for such criminal purposes adds a new dimension to the cross-border, billion-dollar drug war that the US ally has blamed on Iranian-backed militias which hold sway in southern Syria.

Syria is accused by Arab governments and the West of producing the highly addictive and lucrative amphetamine Captagon and other drugs, which it then smuggles to the Gulf states. Jordan is on the main transit route.

READ: Saudi minister says region has seen ‘explosive growth’ in synthetic drugs