Drug smuggling across the Syrian-Jordanian border is increasingly moving beyond traditional methods. In the first half of 2026, Jordan’s border service thwarted 231 attempts at smuggling and illegal entry, seizing around 11 million Captagon pills, 14 kilograms of other drugs, including crystal methamphetamine and “Hydro,” as well as weapons. More than 1,663 packages of hashish and 125 GPS devices were also confiscated. Jordanian authorities consider drug trafficking and cross-border infiltration among the country’s main security threats.
Syrian authorities have also reported major seizures. On September 7, the transport of 218,000 Captagon pills and 44 kilograms of hashish was thwarted in the countryside of As-Suwayda Governorate. Earlier, on August 29, 138 kilograms of hashish and 382,000 pills were confiscated in the same area. Overall, more than 2.9 million Captagon pills and 724 kilograms of hashish were seized in various Syrian provinces during August. As-Suwayda accounted for more than 14% of all Captagon pills seized in the country, underscoring the region’s importance as a key route to Jordan and onward to neighboring markets.
According to experts, smugglers are actively using small drones and GPS-guided balloons capable of delivering drug shipments to predetermined locations. Empty balloons are launched at the same time to confuse surveillance systems. Drones usually carry small quantities, particularly crystal methamphetamine, while balloons can transport bags containing larger shipments. Specialists believe that repeated operations of this kind being thwarted indicates improved preparedness and coordination among security forces.
Another route runs through valleys and hard-to-reach areas in southern As-Suwayda, particularly during winter, when fog reduces visibility. Groups of around 20 porters cross the border on foot; each can carry approximately 35 kilograms and earn between $8,000 and $10,000. They are accompanied by armed men who provide cover during clashes. When threatened with arrest, smugglers abandon the cargo and retreat into Syria. The use of SUVs to transport large shipments and weapons has declined significantly since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. However, at the Jaber–Nassib crossing, drugs are still concealed in trucks or among commercial cargo.
Photographs published by the Jordanian military show that the most commonly used drones are quadcopters manufactured between 2013 and 2019. Some cost no more than $1,000, can fly between three and five kilometers, and are equipped with high-resolution cameras. They use Wi-Fi, GPS and ultrasonic sensors to avoid obstacles, while operators can preset routes and coordinates. Thanks to autonomous navigation systems, a drone can complete a flight without continuous manual control.
Amid the rise in drug trafficking, Amman and Damascus have stepped up military and security cooperation, seeking to pursue smuggling networks and identify production facilities on both sides of the border. Jordanian sources link the increased activity in As-Suwayda to the group led by Hikmat al-Hajri, accusing it of ties to the drug trade and external support, including from Israel. The article presents these accusations without the group’s own position. According to Jordanian sources, the group allegedly created favorable conditions for smugglers and received funding from traffickers for its armed activities. The renewed activity has also been linked to its opposition to the Jordanian-American-Syrian roadmap signed in Amman in September last year.
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Why has As-Suwayda Governorate become such an important hub for drug-trafficking routes into Jordan, and how do its mountainous terrain, proximity to the border and local social ties affect this? — As-Suwayda is located in southern Syria near Jordan and has a long border that is difficult to monitor fully. Its mountainous and rugged terrain facilitates the covert movement of people and cargo, particularly in remote areas and at night. Weak state institutions after years of war, the presence of local armed groups, and family or tribal ties on both sides of the border also help smugglers find guides, shelters and safe routes. However, this does not mean that the entire local population or the Druze community is involved in drug trafficking: most residents oppose it.
What is the Jaber–Nassib crossing, and why does it remain vulnerable to drugs being concealed in trucks and commercial shipments despite tighter controls? — Jaber–Nassib is an official road crossing between Jordan and Syria: in Jordan it is called Jaber, while in Syria it is known as Nassib. It is an important trade and transit route linking Syria, Jordan and the Gulf states. Tighter controls make overt smuggling attempts more difficult but do not eliminate the risk entirely: large volumes of cargo pass through the crossing every day, sophisticated concealment methods and forged documents are used, and inspecting every truck requires considerable time and resources. In addition, some drugs may be moved not through the official crossing but along illegal routes near the border.
Who is the group led by Hikmat al-Hajri, what role does it play in the political and armed life of As-Suwayda, and how well substantiated are Jordanian sources’ accusations of its links to drug trafficking and external support? — Hikmat al-Hajri is an influential Druze religious figure in As-Suwayda, around whom an armed and political movement has formed that opposes the central authorities in Damascus and calls for greater autonomy for the governorate. His supporters have taken part in protests and armed clashes, although the movement does not always operate as a single, tightly centralized organization. Allegations of involvement in drug trafficking and receiving external support come mainly from Jordanian and pro-Syrian sources and are often connected to political struggles; there is little independent public evidence sufficient to draw a definitive conclusion. Such claims should therefore be treated as disputed allegations, not established fact.
Full version: On the Jordanian-Syrian border… How the drug-smuggling game has changed