Al-Tarawneh: Smugglers repeat their attempts to increase the quantities of drugs smuggled via drones and balloons

Al-Tarawneh said that smuggling operations previously witnessed notable activity through the northern region, with numerous attempts recorded, while the southern region did not receive the same level of attention, despite the complex nature of the borders there. He added that the economic factor represents one of the most prominent motives for smuggling, in light of the price difference for drugs between Jordan and Israel.

Al-Tarawneh explained that the Negev region and the surrounding border areas are witnessing activity in smuggling operations, pointing out that indicators of a change in the nature of these operations began to appear since 2024, with the detection of Afghan black hashish and "Hydro" material, which he described as a type of concentrated marijuana.

He added that smuggling operations through the southwestern region increased during 2025, and the quantities being seized have become more apparent, noting that the Jordanian Armed Forces deal with smuggling attempts on a near-daily basis.

He indicated that the use of drones and balloons in smuggling operations leads to an increase in the number of attempts, as smaller quantities are transported through them compared to land smuggling, which prompts smugglers to repeat attempts to increase the total quantities they seek to pass through.

For his part, Bani Hamdan said that looking at smuggling operations requires a broader reading of the security and political context in the region, pointing to what he described as historical indicators of the Israeli authorities not taking effective measures to limit the spread of drugs in some areas.

He added that areas within the Palestinian territories, including the '48 areas and the West Bank, have witnessed a spread of drugs, considering that the ineffectiveness of control measures in those areas raises questions regarding the nature of the official handling of the phenomenon.

Regarding Jordan, Bani Hamdan believed that turning a blind eye to potential smuggling operations might be linked to goals that go beyond the commercial aspect, in light of projects being worked on in the border area extending from the Yarmouk River in the north to the southern regions.

He pointed out that smuggling operations have begun to take, according to his assessment, different paths in conjunction with Israeli security measures on the borders, which Israel says are aimed at preventing arms smuggling and curbing Iranian influence or the activity of armed organizations. He added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli Defense Minister view the region as the "Eastern Front," according to his description, and not just a border between two countries bound by a peace treaty.

Bani Hamdan questioned the effectiveness of Israeli measures on the borders, in light of smugglers' use of electronically guided balloons and drones, considering that the nature of these means raises questions regarding the efficiency of sensing and surveillance systems on the Israeli side, and the extent of clear cooperation to limit smuggling operations.

He recalled the experience of drug smuggling from Syria to Jordan during the reign of the previous Syrian regime, noting that the Fourth Division of the Syrian Army was, according to him, playing a role in organizing smuggling operations at that time. He raised questions about whether the current operations are organized in the same way, or are carried out by criminal gangs active in the region.

In his comment on the nature of these operations, Al-Tarawneh said that the smuggling is carried out by criminal gangs present in the region, noting that the existence of smuggling networks does not necessarily mean the existence of an official organization for them or their direct link to a government entity.

He pointed out that the problem of drug abuse exists on the Israeli side as well, but he stressed the need to distinguish between the spread of abuse and questions related to the capabilities of Israeli forces and their measures on the borders. He added that the Israeli military presence in the region, the frequent visits by military leaders, the maneuvers, and the available technological capabilities raise questions about the ability of those forces to detect and deal with smuggling attempts.

Al-Tarawneh emphasized the importance of not just monitoring the quantities entering across the borders, but tracking the money obtained from these operations, identifying the gangs that manage them, and the parties that benefit from them, pointing out that smuggling constitutes part of an illicit economy whose parties are difficult to identify in the absence of clear and sufficient information.

He added that countries may face problems related to smuggling, but the available capabilities and the ability to take more effective measures remain important factors in limiting these operations, especially in sensitive border areas.

In turn, Bani Hamdan said that smuggling operations cannot be separated, in his estimation, from the capabilities of the Israeli security and intelligence services, border guards, and anti-narcotics, considering that their escalation in the southern and western region, compared to their decline in the northern region, raises questions about the reasons for this shift.

Bani Hamdan attributed the decline in smuggling operations in the northern region to proactive Jordanian measures, along with the cooperation of the new Syrian government, according to his assessment, while he pointed to an increase in operations through the southern and western region.

He added that the difference in drug prices, along with the repetition of smuggling operations, calls for investigating the parties benefiting from this illicit trade, considering that the issue may go beyond financial profits to broader strategic goals.

He said that the experiences of drug spread in the '48 areas and the West Bank could, from his point of view, constitute an indicator that requires studying the repercussions of the spread of this scourge on societies, adding that flooding societies with drugs could lead to weakening their internal immunity. He clarified that this represents an analytical reading of the phenomenon, not proof of the existence of an official Israeli decision in this regard.

Bani Hamdan pointed out that the absence of clear indicators of effective Israeli measures to prevent smuggling towards Jordan raises questions regarding the official Israeli position, especially in light of the technological capabilities, sensors, and surveillance equipment available on the borders.