Youths join security forces in Amman anti-drug parade

AMMAN — Jordanians took part in a parade at Al Hussein Parks in Amman on Wednesday to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Representatives of security departments joined the local community for the parade, including Anti-Narcotics Department Director Brig. Gen. Anwar Tarawneh.

“It is important because it raises the awareness of people. The more we work on the awareness side the more it eases our work in combating the spread of drugs,” he told The Jordan Times. 

The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is marked globally on June 26, but was marked in Jordan on Wednesday. 

Tarawneh said the turnout at the event showed that Jordanians were against the spread of drugs in their communities. 

He noted that 95 per cent of the drugs seized by his department were smuggled into Jordan from abroad.

Amman Governor Khaled Abu Zeid noted the high participation of young people in the parade, which he said indicated that youths were aware of the dangers of drugs.  

Laila Azab, 26, said young people want to take a stand against drugs because it is an issue that affects them.

Amal Shabsough, director of the Chechen Society, also took part, and said many people from Sweileh had come to the parade.  

“Many segments of society took part in this event and this will help expose them to the dangerous consequences of drugs. The problem exists in our society and since we have acknowledged its presence we all have to combat it,” she told The Jordan Times.