Egypt joins forces with Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon to combat drug smuggling

AMMAN — Minister of Interior Mazin Farrayeh met on Monday with his Saudi and Egyptian counterparts at the 41st session of the Arab Interior Ministers Council in Tunisia and discussed aspects of joint security collaboration between the countries.

During his meeting with President of the Arab Interior Ministers Council Prince Abdulaziz Bin Saud, Farrayeh underscored the outcomes of a quadripartite ministerial meeting hosted by Jordan and attended by Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan interior ministers, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Farrayeh briefed his Saudi counterpart on initiatives undertaken during the meeting, including the formation of a communication cell among the four countries to track information and shipments, exchange experiences, and monitor information.

The Saudi minister expressed interest in the outcomes of the meeting and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to high-level coordination in the fight against drugs, Petra reported. 

Farrayeh also met with Egyptian Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfik, discussing security cooperation, with a particular emphasis on exchanging expertise and capacity building.

Farrayeh also outlined the outcomes of the ministerial meeting in Amman on illicit drug smuggling, stressing the importance of Egypt’s participation in the joint communication cell with Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon for regional security and peace.

 Tawfik welcomed Egypt’s inclusion in the communication cell and expressed appreciation for the level of collaboration between the security agencies in combating drugs and exchanging experiences.

The meeting also touched upon the current regional situation and the international efforts led by His Majesty King Abdullah and President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi to halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza, emphasising Jordan and Egypt's crucial roles in supporting Palestine.