[ad_1]
By OMAR AKOUR, Related Press
AL-WASHASH, Jordan (AP) — The Jordanian navy says a crackdown on drug smugglers alongside the Syrian border is delivering outcomes.
Throughout a media tour alongside the Syrian border on Thursday, Col. Mustafa al-Hiyari mentioned the navy was compelled into motion in response to elevated smuggling exercise and violence. In January, a military officer was killed in a shootout with smugglers.
“Altering the principles of engagement got here because of altering the character of the risk. Due to this fact, the outcomes had been decisive,” he mentioned.
The navy says it has killed some 30 smugglers, together with 27 individuals in a single day. Al-Hiyari, director of the military’s data directorate, additionally mentioned massive portions of cannabis and 16 million narcotics capsules have been seized.
Political Cartoons on World Leaders
Political Cartoons
He mentioned Syrian authorities have pledged cooperation, however Jordan has seen solely restricted outcomes. He mentioned in some instances, Syrian police have even cooperated with smugglers alongside the porous border.
“It didn’t bear fruit for lengthy intervals, which compelled us to vary the principles of engagement,” he mentioned of the Syrian pledges to assist.
As he spoke, troopers stood by and armed forces autos may very well be seen patrolling the border. Al-Hiyari mentioned the mission can also be aimed toward stopping the cargo of medication out of Jordan and throughout the area.
An unlawful drug business has flourished in Syria after 10 years of civil battle. Lately, the Arab Mediterranean nation has emerged as a hotspot for making and promoting captagon, an unlawful amphetamine. Each Syria and neighboring Lebanon have develop into gateways for the drug to the Center East, notably the Gulf.
In September, Syrian and Jordanian officers mentioned border safety after Syrian authorities forces captured rebel-held areas alongside the Jordanian frontier. A month later, Jordan’s King Abdullah II spoke with Syrian President Bashar Assad for the primary time in a decade after the 2 international locations reopened a key border crossing.
Jordan shares an extended porous border with its northern neighbor and is dwelling to greater than 650,000 Syrian refugees who fled the civil battle.
On Monday, Abdullah visited the realm, saluting military personnel and stressing the necessity to deal firmly with infiltration and smuggling, the Royal Court docket mentioned.
Based on the Jordanian military, the navy final 12 months thwarted about 361 infiltration or smuggling makes an attempt and 48 smuggling operations.
Copyright 2022 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
[ad_2]
Source link
