Jordan-Israel Border Becomes New Hotspot for Sophisticated Drug Trade

Jordanians fear the border with Israel is becoming a major drug-smuggling route, as gangs reportedly use drones and helium-filled balloons. Networks active in Israel’s Negev Desert are said to have links to groups in Jordan and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Since Bashar al-Assad’s fall in late 2024 and the decline in Captagon trafficking from Syria, Jordanian forces have increasingly focused on the Jordan-Israel border. The new smuggling methods are reportedly being used to carry hashish, crystal meth and amphetamines into Jordan.