Suspects arrested for smuggling chemical narcotics using papers at QAIA

AMMAN — The Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) on Tuesday arrested four suspects in connection with a new method of alleged smuggling of illegal chemical narcotics through papers at Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA).

The four suspects had ties with international gangs and reportedly used a new method of mixing illegal chemical narcotics with papers, Police Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said.

“We had prior knowledge that gang members are using new methods of smuggling illegal narcotics and AND and customs agents became suspicious of a box that was shipped via QAIA,” Sartawi told The Jordan Times.

Upon inspecting the box, the police official maintained, “Law-enforcement agents only found white and coloured papers,” the police official said.

“The papers were sent for inspection and were found to contain a large amount of illegal chemical narcotics,” Sartawi maintained.

The police official added that investigations led them to the main suspect who used a fake name, according to Sartawi.

The suspect confessed to corresponding with individuals in a neighbouring country to smuggle the illegal narcotics into the country, he added.

The suspect also confessed to cooperating with three other individuals who were arrested by police, Sartawi said.

“We found a large quantity of illicit drugs at their house,” he said.

The four suspects were referred to the State Security Court prosecutor for further questioning and indictment, according to a statement by the Public Security Directorate.

Investigators also sent the investigation proceedings to the Arab neighbouring country where the package came from to notify them about the case, the PSD statement added.