The eastern border heats up following a massive wave of drug smuggling into Jordan

The IDF and police are thwarting large-scale drug smuggling attempts from Israel to Jordan. Yesterday, an attempt to smuggle about 60 kg of drugs was foiled at Maoz Hayim. In recent months, some 700 kg of drugs have been intercepted along the eastern border. The Border Unit commander stated that the vast price differences are driving the networks.

The Jordan border has become a battleground against smuggling cells that are taking huge quantities of drugs worth millions of shekels out of Israel. Yesterday (Monday), a smuggling attempt of about 60 kg of drugs was foiled in the Maoz Hayim area. IDF observers spotted suspects, and forces from the Lions of Jordan Battalion and Border Unit police launched a pursuit. The suspects, aged 17 and 20 from the Bedouin diaspora in the south, were arrested near the Megiddo Junction. The Border Unit commander, Chief Inspector Yaron Vaknin, explained that residents of the diaspora bring drugs from the south, make contact with the Jordanian side, and transfer them in coordination. He highlighted the price differences: hashish is bought for 2,000 shekels and sold to the Jordanian side for 30,000 shekels. In recent months, some 700 kg of drugs have been intercepted along the eastern border.