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Source: https://jcpa.org/the-war-on-drugs-at-the-syrian-jordanian-border/
The "War on Drugs" at the Syrian-Jordanian Border
(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs) Yoni Ben Menachem - The last three years have seen an upsurge in the smuggling from Syria to Jordan, primarily involving Captagon amphetamine tablets, opioid Tramadol pills, and hashish. Jordan says Iran and senior Syrian military officers are behind the smuggling. To facilitate the smuggling, Syrian smugglers have begun to use drones. Jordanian army spokesperson Col. Mustafa al-Hiyari told Jordanian TV on May 23, 2022, that "dangerous Iranian organizations are trying to undermine Jordan's national security, and the Jordanian army is waging war on drugs at the northern border with Syria." During the Syrian civil war, Syria became a Captagon superpower. Captagon is very popular among teens in the Arab world. Amid harsh American sanctions and Syria's severe economic crisis, the regime has turned the drug sector into an essential source of income. According to American sources, the Captagon-production facilities are under the control and protection of the Syrian army's Fourth Division, commanded by Gen. Maher al-Assad, brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.