The Anti-Narcotics Department thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of drugs destined for one of the neighboring countries and arrested members of two gangs linked to regional drug trafficking networks – a statement by the Public Security Directorate (PSD).

The operation involved around 9.5 million narcotic pills and 143 kilograms of cannabis.

The Anti-Narcotics Department dismantled the operations of the trafficking gangs after intelligence and operational efforts were made over continuous two months of work and investigation, to monitor the suspects and uncover their criminal activities inside the kingdom and their ties to regional drug trafficking networks and their affiliated branches.

The Department had been following up on preliminary information for about two months about two groups of individuals linked to regional drug manufacturing and trafficking networks, preparing to smuggle large quantities of drugs.

Based on the incoming information, the PSD formed special investigative teams from the Anti-Narcotics Department and other security agencies to follow up on and verify this information, and monitor anyone suspected of involvement or participation in smuggling operations.

The statement confirmed that the investigative teams worked separately to monitor the smuggling groups, each within their own investigation scope, and through continuous investigation, the networks and suspected individuals became clear to the investigators.

The teams also identified the smuggling methods and plans, which were similar in their criminal approach of concealing drugs in heavy construction machinery, indicating a preliminary connection between the gangs to the same regional criminal network, despite the lack of direct involvement in their activities within Jordan.

The statement added that after all these investigative and intelligence efforts, with patience and perseverance to gather information and evidence and monitor them, the investigative teams in the first case managed to identify the details of the smuggling operation and the timing of the heavy machinery's movement to the Al-Omari border crossing.

The security efforts enabled the concerned teams to seize the vehicle as soon as it reached the border crossing, and inside it, three million and one hundred thousand narcotic pills were found hidden in secret compartments concealed in the vehicle.

The statement indicated that, simultaneously with the seizure of the vehicle and its driver, the necessary plans were made to ensure the arrest of two accomplices in the smuggling operation who were planning to evade capture at the moment of the smuggling operation.

At the same time, the investigative teams in the second case continued their work to monitor the other gang, which was found to consist of five individuals, including elements linked to regional drug trafficking networks.

The statement said that the teams managed to locate the heavy machinery (bulldozer), raid it, and seize the machinery containing approximately five million hidden narcotic pills in secret compartments within the vehicle body. Additionally, three individuals involved in the operation were arrested.

The investigation in the second case led to the discovery of the hiding place of two other partners in the gang, who were found to have large quantities of drugs hidden, as part of preparations for another smuggling operation.

The statement confirmed that the partners were arrested after their hideout was raided, and the remaining drugs hidden inside a water well in the Ramtha Governorate were identified and seized, amounting to one million five hundred and fifty thousand narcotic pills, in addition to 143 kilograms of cannabis.

The PSD added that the investigations in both cases are ongoing to uncover all the details, identify all external links, take all necessary legal actions, and address the countries where suspects involved in the two cases are proven to be present on their territories.