Jordan-Israel border becomes new hotspot for sophisticated drug trade | Crime News
Amman, Jordan – Concerns are growing among Jordanian officials that the nation’s border with Israel is evolving into a significant route for drug smuggling, fueled by sophisticated operations employing drones and helium-filled balloons.
Organized crime networks in Israel’s Negev Desert have established ties with groups in Jordan and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. This has raised alarms in Jordan regarding the possible ramifications for the kingdom, particularly along a border that is among the most monitored globally.
The rise in drug trafficking coincides with shifts in the regional narcotics trade, particularly after the decline of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024. Elements within the Assad government were previously implicated in the production and distribution of Captagon, an illegal amphetamine. Following Syria’s transformation into a hub for Captagon distribution to the Gulf, Jordan became both a transit point and a market for the drug.
In response to escalating security concerns, the Royal Jordanian Air Force has conducted periodic strikes on identified drug manufacturing and smuggling locations inside Syria. Since the dissipation of Assad’s control and the rise of new authorities who regard the Captagon trade as a national security threat, there has been a reported decrease in the flow of this drug into Jordan. However, Druze militias in Syria’s Suwayda province, reputedly linked to Israel, allegedly continue these activities.
Jordanian security forces are increasingly focused on the border with Israel, where newly employed tactics by gangs include the use of quadcopters and balloons to smuggle hashish, crystal meth, and amphetamines. Initial data indicates that Jordanian forces intercepted 17 drone-related smuggling attempts in the southwestern border area with Israel during the first half of 2026.
In total, Jordanian authorities reported 231 smuggling attempts and the downing of 56 drones across various borders within the same timeframe. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya confirmed that operations to combat drug trafficking are ongoing, although he acknowledged the complexities posed by these advanced smuggling tactics.
Al-Faraya noted the number of drug seizure cases has reached 15,342 in the current year, with trafficking incidents accounting for about 28 percent of these cases. Israeli media reports suggest that the smuggling operations into Jordan are tied to gangs in the Negev Desert, where the street value of drugs can significantly exceed that in Israel.
Market estimates suggest that one kilogram of hashish may sell for around £7,500 (nearly $10,000) in Jordan, reflecting a price approximately 15 times higher than in Israel, according to The Telegraph.
Reports indicate that some members of Palestinian communities in Israel are involved in the drug trade amid widespread disenfranchisement and poverty. Critics argue that these dynamics have been exploited to foster division and stifle demands for greater rights.
Ammar al-Qudah, a member of the Jordanian Senate and retired major-general, stated that organized gangs in the Negev possess over 1,000 drones initially intended for agricultural and security applications. He described a complex network relying on routes originating from Sinai, traversing through the Negev, and reaching Wadi Araba, as well as routes connected to the Lebanese border and Syria.
Al-Qudah emphasized that these gangs utilize sophisticated technologies to circumvent security measures on both sides of the border, including drones capable of carrying substantial payloads of narcotics.
There are rising concerns that a portion of the narcotics being transported into Jordan is being dispensed domestically, while the remainder is directed toward other markets in the region. Allegations have arisen suggesting that some members of Israeli forces may be aware of drug trafficking operations, echoing past incidents in Egypt involving illicit collaborations.
Former military personnel in the Israeli military have allegedly been recruited by traffickers to provide intelligence to facilitate smuggling efforts. Although no direct evidence implicates Israeli involvement in Jordan, questions persist regarding how contraband could traverse such a heavily surveilled border.
Jordan’s counternarcotics department continues to monitor and track these operations, making arrests as necessary. Retired Brigadier General Daifallah al-Daboubi described the phenomenon as a “reverse drug migration,” highlighting the advanced resources employed by gangs in the Negev.
As the Israeli military remains preoccupied with ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and the Golan Heights, smugglers have found opportunities to operate along the Jordan border. However, al-Daboubi dismissed the notion that Israeli political or military leaders are directly involved in drug smuggling activities.
Israel has implemented measures to reinforce security along its eastern border, including the establishment of the 96th Division and the construction of a contentious barrier with Jordan, though these efforts appear more focused on preventing arms smuggling than on curbing drug exports.
