Security forces in southern Syria and along Jordan’s northern border escalated efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks, demonstrating a continued regional push against narcotics smuggling. Syria’s Interior Ministry announced April 2 that its anti-narcotics department carried out a “complex” series of operations in the Damascus countryside, leading to the dismantling of an international drug network.
Authorities said the raids uncovered secret facilities used for manufacturing and storage, as well as local distribution hubs. According to the ministry, approximately 1 million Captagon pills and 1 kilogram of hashish were seized.
Officials said the shipment originated in Lebanon and was intended for smuggling through Syrian territory to neighboring countries. Three senior members of the network were arrested, and authorities detained the individual believed to be responsible for overseeing the production sites, referring him to the judiciary.
In a separate operation in Jaramana, security forces arrested a drug dealer accused of impersonating a security officer to facilitate trafficking activities. The ministry said the operations were part of ongoing coordination among specialized units and border guard forces aimed at disrupting organized drug networks.
Jordan Launches Airstrikes
Hours after Syria’s announcement, Jordan reported conducting airstrikes early Sunday, April 3 targeting suspected smuggling infrastructure across its northern frontier. The Jordanian Armed Forces said the strikes were part of “Operation Jordanian Deterrence,” aimed at destroying factories, workshops and warehouses used by traffickers as staging points for smuggling weapons and narcotics into the kingdom.
The Jordanian News Agency quoted military officials as saying the strikes were based on intelligence and carried out with precision to prevent drugs and weapons from reaching Jordanian territory. The statement did not disclose exact locations.
Local Syrian sources reported that warplanes, believed to be Jordanian, struck sites in the Suwayda countryside, including areas near the town of Shahba. Reports indicated that warehouses containing drugs and weapons were targeted, with ambulance sirens heard following the strikes.
Additional local reporting suggested multiple locations, including villages such as Arman and Bosan, were hit, some allegedly linked to known traffickers and armed groups involved in cross-border smuggling.
Rising Smuggling Attempts Drive Regional Response
Jordanian officials said trafficking groups have adapted their tactics, exploiting weather conditions and regional instability to increase smuggling attempts. The military described a “significant” rise in attempts to move drugs and weapons across the border, posing challenges for border security forces.
These developments come as Syrian authorities intensify efforts to combat narcotics production and trafficking following political changes in the country. International reports have noted that in recent years Syria has caused major disruption to Captagon production. Officials in both countries indicated that operations are ongoing, signaling continued coordination and enforcement as they confront evolving smuggling networks in the region.
