Syria thwarts border drug smuggling attempt using new method

Syrian authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle drugs into Jordan across the southern border on Wednesday using balloons. The official Syrian news agency (SANA) quoted the Anti-Narcotics Office, which stated that "an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of dangerous substances into Jordan using balloons was thwarted in the eastern countryside of As-Suwayda province."

The office confirmed the seizure of 70 kilograms of hashish, 45,000 Captagon tablets, and various tools used in the smuggling operation. Since the ousting of Assad in December 2024, the new authorities have committed to intensifying the fight against drugs. During the final years of the ousted president's rule, the country had become a central hub for the production and export of Captagon to regional countries via Jordan and Lebanon.

Combating drug trafficking is a shared security priority for Damascus and Amman, given the persistent activity of smuggling networks along their common border. Both capitals have repeatedly announced increased coordination to gain control over these networks. According to official Jordanian data, Amman intercepted more than 310 drug-laden drones during the first half of 2025.