Jordan Intercepts Drug-Laden Drone From Syria

In a continuous effort to combat the illicit drug trade flowing across its border with Syria, Jordan's armed forces have successfully intercepted a drone laden with drugs for the ninth time this year. According to an official military statement released on Monday, the latest incident involved a drone carrying crystal meth that had crossed the border from Syria. The statement highlighted the collaborative efforts of various security agencies. "The border guard forces, in coordination with the narcotics control department and the military security services, monitored an attempt by an unmanned drone to illegally cross the border from Syrian territory to Jordanian territory, and it was shot down inside Jordanian territory," it read in part This marks the latest in a series of incidents in which Jordanian authorities have taken action against drug-laden drones. Just last month, the Jordanian army successfully downed three drones carrying narcotics from Syria that had traversed the porous 375-kilometer (233-mile) border shared by the two nations. War-torn Syria has emerged as a significant hub for the multibillion-dollar drug trade, with Jordan serving as a primary transit route for a Syrian-made amphetamine known as Captagon, according to Western anti-narcotics officials. This ongoing battle against drug trafficking has placed additional strain on the already complex geopolitical situation in the region. It's worth noting that President Bashar al-Assad's commitment to cracking down on drug trafficking played a pivotal role in Syria's recent re-entry into the Arab League in May, ending a 12-year period of ostracization. The fight against narcotics smuggling continues to be a critical concern for both Jordan and its neighbors.