Army foils drug smuggling attempt at Syria border, 1 smuggler killed

AMMAN — Eastern Military Zone border patrol personnel intercepted a group of individuals attempting to smuggle narcotics from the Syrian territory into Jordan on Sunday evening. After detecting the attempted border crossing, Border Guard forces deployed rapid reaction patrols and applied the rules of engagement, leading to the death of one smuggler, according to an official military source at the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF).

The remaining smugglers retreated into Syrian territory, the source added. The smuggling attempt was stopped in coordination with the military security services and the Anti-Narcotics Department, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Troops surveyed the area surrounding the incident and found 133,000 narcotics, one AK-47 rifle and an unspecified quantity of ammunition. The army announced its intention to “continue to strike with an iron fist” with regard to smuggling attempts or illegal border crossings targeting national security.