‘Smuggling business’ not picking up since Syrian border reopening

AMMAN — Since the reopening of the Jaber/Nasib border last month, rumours have circulated about “smuggled goods”, especially cigarettes, making their way into Jordanian markets. 

Those who were involved in the illegal trade before the Syrian crisis broke out in 2011 said they used to buy bundles of cigarette packs from Syria, which were sold around JD1 cheaper than in Jordan. They would then smuggle them into the Kingdom and sell them at a lower price than that of the local market, yet still profitable enough to make a living.

The illegal trade stopped when the war broke out, and the border was closed for more than three years due to security concerns. 

A man, who preferred to remain anonymous, told The Jordan Times over the phone: “Yes, the trade was illegal, but we did not pose a real threat to major tobacco companies or tobacco distributors, and we only made enough to make ends meet.”

According to various sources, people involved in such businesses would usually reside in the northern district of Ramtha on the Syrian border, most of them working as drivers to and from Syria.

Although the border was reopened in October, increased security and limited operating hours at the crossing have kept the smuggling “limited and completely under control”, Public Security Directorate Spokesperson Amer Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

Now working in Zarqa, another man said he used to go to Syria to bring cigarettes back and that he thought about returning to the business, "but cigarette prices have gone up in Syria, and security has tightened at the border, making the trade not worth the trouble”.

Citizens reported very small amounts of smuggled goods in Ramtha nowadays, some 90km north of Amman.

“The instalment of new technological devices for security checks at the border crossing, which scan the whole vehicle, has made it to difficult to smuggle not only cigarettes, but anything else,” Mohammad Rebhi, a resident of Ramtha said, adding that “the border is also now only open from 8am to 4pm, which means that drivers can only make one trip, maximum”.

Some drivers of passenger vehicles — known in Ramtha as “baharah” (“sailors” in English)  voiced interest in getting involved in the low-level illegal trade, since the fare to and from the border is not profitable enough on its own. 

“Gas is expensive, we usually come back without passengers as some like to stay overnight, and we only manage one trip a day, so I try to bring back some goods for my family, at least,” said Waad Taha, a construction worker who drives passengers to and from Syria on the weekend.

“There isn’t high demand for the trips, as people are still concerned over security issues in Syria, so if we don’t bring back goods, then we don’t make any profit," Ahmed Naseri, another driver, said.