Visit the Web Pages Hosted by HR-Net Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

U.S. Department of State
1996 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, March 1997

United States Department of State

Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs


Africa and the Middle East

JORDAN

I. Summary

Jordan neither produces nor consumes significant amounts of illicit drugs. However, Jordan historically has been a transit country for illicit drugs because of its geographical location between drug producing countries to the north and drug consuming countries to the south and west. Although incidents of illicit drug use have increased recently, drug abuse in Jordan is still considered minor. The majority of trafficking in Jordan is in hashish, although the Jordanian National Police have reported a significant decline in the amount of hashish seized over the past three years. They attribute this decline to the actions of Lebanese and Syrian counternarcotics authorities in the eradication of hashish farms in southern Lebanon. Jordan is a party to the 1998 UN Convention, enforces strict antidrug laws and continues to receive cooperation from bordering states in narcotics interdiction efforts. Germany, the UK and the US provide narcotics assistance to Jordan in the way of grants, equipment and training.

II. Status of Country

The USG does not foresee significant changes in Jordan's minimal involvement in narcotics production and trafficking in the near future. But Jordan is a transit country for narcotics and is vulnerable to illicit drug smuggling across its vast desert borders. Lack of manpower and equipment plague Jordan's interdiction efforts. The peace treaty with Israel has led to cooperation between the two countries in antinarcotics investigations; however, the open borders and increased trade with Israel make Jordan more attractive as a staging area for traffickers who supply illicit narcotics to Israel. Jordan has benefitted from Syrian and Lebanese hashish eradication efforts, but has seen an increase in the movement of Turkish heroin and Captagon pills through Jordan. Jordan lacks a money laundering law which may prove an attraction for drug traffickers in the region whose own countries have adopted money laundering laws.

III. Country Action Against Drugs in 1996

Policy Initiatives. In April, the Public Security Directorate (PSD), Jordan's national police, restructured the Antinarcotics and Counterfeiting Bureau. The PSD created a separate Antinarcotics Unit (ANU) with the colonel in charge of the former bureau remaining to head the ANU. The responsibilities for counterfeiting investigations were absorbed by the Criminal Investigations Division (CID). Although the division of the bureau did not produce an increase in budget or personnel, the separation has enabled officers in the new unit to focus exclusively on narcotics investigations.

  • The PSD has initiated a campaign to randomly search vehicles on the highways for illicit drugs.
  • The PSD has opened new antinarcotics unit branches in the cities of Balqa and Karak.
  • The PSD commissioned the University of Jordan to undertake a comprehensive study to evaluate the amount of illicit drug consumption in Jordan.
  • The PSD assigned a narcotics liaison officer to the Jordanian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to coordinate narcotics investigations with Saudi counter-narcotics authorities.

Accomplishments. Jordanians are primarily concerned with the transiting of illicit drugs through their country. In this regard, Jordan has worked closely with bordering states in narcotics interdiction efforts. Jordan maintains close relations in narcotics investigations with Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt and Israel. In 1996, Jordan established a narcotics liaison office at its embassy in Saudi Arabia. It has also established a working relationship between the PSD and Israel's Interpol representative for narcotics investigations. A highlight in Syria-Jordan cooperation occurred in August when the PSD, acting on information from Syrian authorities, seized 10.65 kgs of heroin and arrested two Syrians and one Turkish national in Amman during a controlled-delivery operation.

Law Enforcement Efforts. The PSD is responsible for enforcing Jordan's drug laws. The PSD seized more heroin in 1996 than in the previous five years combined (over 60 kgs). The PSD attributes this to the increasing demand for heroin in Israel. The PSD reported an increase in the amount of Captagon (stimulants) pills seized in 1996 over 1995. These pills originate in Turkey and are destined primarily for Saudi Arabia.

Corruption. The PSD reported no narcotics-related corruption investigations during the year. There currently is no evidence to suggest that senior Jordanian officials are involved in narcotics trafficking.

Agreements and Treaties. Jordan maintains antinarcotics agreements with Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt. In 1996, Jordan entered into bilateral agreements with Pakistan and Hungary which include counternarcotics cooperation. Jordan and the US concluded an extradition treaty in 1995. To date, there have been no drug-related extraditions.

Domestic Programs/Demand Reduction. Religious and social norms limit the use of illegal drugs in Jordan. The PSD has initiated a program to publicize all major drug seizures and arrests in an effort to deter individuals from engaging in narcotics trafficking. The PSD and the Ministry of Health continued their drug awareness program in public and private schools, which educates children about the dangers of drug abuse.

IV. US Policy Initiatives and Programs

Policy Initiatives. The primary goal of US-Jordanian cooperation is the creation of an effective Jordanian interdiction force. The US and Jordan signed a letter of agreement (LOA) in 1996 which provides US-sponsored narcotics investigation courses to the PSD. This training is tentatively scheduled for April of 1997. The USG will encourage Jordan to pursue specific legislation which would make money laundering a crime. In addition, US officials will urge the PSD to work more closely with its desert police and the customs department in narcotics interdiction efforts.

Bilateral Cooperation. The US and Jordan do not have a bilateral narcotics agreement. However, DEA Cyprus and US Embassy officials enjoy a close working relationship with Jordanian authorities on narcotics-related matters.

The Road Ahead. The USG fully expects continued cooperation from Jordan in antinarcotics efforts.

Back to Top
Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
All Rights Reserved.

HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
Tuesday, 4 March 1997