'Israeli' gangs use balloons, drones to smuggle drugs into Jordan

• Jordanian forces have intercepted large quantities of Captagon, crystal meth, and hashish since the start of 2026.
• Jordanian military sources accused 'Israeli' authorities of selectively publicizing weapons-smuggling incidents while overlooking drug trafficking into Jordan.

'Israeli' criminal gangs are using balloons and drones to smuggle illegal drugs into Jordan, exploiting rising street prices in the kingdom, according to a report published by The Telegraph on Tuesday.

The report cited officials who said smugglers have used quadcopter drones to transport crystal meth, amphetamines, and hashish across the border, while leaked military photographs showed the use of small balloons in smuggling operations.

Jordanian security forces have intensified border patrols and upgraded surveillance systems in response to the growing threat.

According to figures, Jordanian forces have intercepted more than 15,000 Captagon pills, nearly 20,000 kilograms of crystal meth, and 6,000 blocks of hashish since the beginning of 2026, in addition to large quantities of other narcotics.

Jordan challenges 'Israeli' narrative

A Jordanian military source told The Telegraph that 'Israeli' announcements about weapons-smuggling attempts into 'Israel' present an incomplete picture of cross-border criminal activity.

"These announcements by the Israeli side are exaggerated and inaccurate and only cover half the story," the source said, adding that Jordanian border guards had thwarted several attempts to smuggle drugs from 'Israel' in recent months.

Another military source accused 'Israeli' authorities of selectively publicizing certain incidents to portray Jordan as a security threat and justify expanded military measures in the occupied West Bank and border areas.

'Israel's' military rejected claims that it was failing to address smuggling along the eastern border.

An Israeli Occupation Forces spokesperson said the military had established the 96th Division over the past year to strengthen border defenses and had begun construction of a security barrier. The spokesperson added that security forces had thwarted dozens of weapons-smuggling attempts and seized thousands of kilograms of drugs over the same period.

Regional drug trade drives security concerns

Jordan has stepped up efforts to combat narcotics trafficking since the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, targeting remnants of the drug networks that operated under his rule.

The campaign has included efforts to prevent Captagon, an amphetamine-based stimulant widely produced in Syria under the former government, from entering Jordan.

The Telegraph reported that Jordanian operations against drug networks have contributed to rising prices in the local market, with 'Israeli' security estimates placing the street value of hashish in Jordan at up to 15 times its value in 'Israel'.

Jordan's air force has also carried out strikes against suspected drug-related positions in Syria's southern Suwayda province in recent months.

The report further linked developments in southern Syria to the regional narcotics trade, citing analysts who say 'Israel's' military presence and support for Druze factions have complicated efforts by Syria's new authorities to combat drug production and trafficking.

Jordan-'Israel' security relations

Jordan and 'Israel' signed a treaty in 1994 and have maintained security coordination despite mounting political tensions, particularly since the start of the war on the Gaza Strip.

At the United Nations General Assembly last month, His Majesty King Abdullah II strongly criticized the 'Israeli' government's policies, warning that their "sense of impunity" had reached "terrifying levels."