Jordanian army intercepts balloons loaded with drugs on eastern border

Jordanian army personnel patrol along the border with Syria to prevent trafficking on Feb. 17, 2022. (AFP file photo)
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  • The balloons were tracked and brought down as they entered Jordanian territory

DUBAI: Security forces in Jordan’s Eastern Military Zone have thwarted an attempt to fly illegal drugs into the country attached to balloons equipped with rudimentary guidance systems.

The suspicious activity was detected by border guard units working closely with security agencies and the country’s anti-narcotics department, state news agency Petra reported.

The balloons were tracked and brought down as they entered Jordanian territory, and the drugs were seized and handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation, the report added.

Western anti-narcotics officials have said that Jordan has become a transit point to the Gulf states for captagon, an addictive, amphetamine-type stimulant that for years has been mass-produced in Syria.

Jordan and Syria agreed in January to form a joint security committee to secure their border, combat arms and drug smuggling and work to prevent the resurgence of Daesh.