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Jordan Faces Organized Drug and Weapons Smuggling from Syria
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Increasing organized smuggling operations on the Jordanian-Syrian border reveals involvement of Iran-backed armed groups in drug and weapons trade

The Jordanian army initiated a new security operation on the Syrian border today, Sunday, resulting in the elimination of one infiltrator and the arrest of six others who attempted to breach the border from the Syrian side.
Jordanian officials are monitoring a notable escalation in infiltration attempts in recent weeks, especially by drug and weapons smuggling networks linked to Iran-backed armed groups controlling southern Syria.
Read also: After Assad's Visit.. Saudi Arabia Arrests Officials Involved in Drug Smuggling
Jordanian border guards face "organized" smuggling operations using advanced technologies like drones and supported by armed groups, which has prompted the kingdom to employ its air force in countering these threats and shooting down smuggling drones.
The Hashemite Kingdom, which hosts about 1.6 million Syrian refugees, bears an additional burden in combating Captagon pill smuggling, while Damascus denies involvement in these operations and claims to be making efforts to limit them.
Recent months have witnessed a series of bloody confrontations, with five smugglers killed and four others wounded in February, while January clashes resulted in the elimination of five smugglers and the arrest of 15 others.
December 2023 recorded three violent confrontations resulting in casualties among Jordanian border guards, in addition to the arrest of nine smugglers possessing drugs and various weapons.
The growing Captagon industry in Syria since the outbreak of conflict in 2011 poses an escalating security challenge for Jordan, especially with the border area becoming an open confrontation zone with organized smuggling networks.
Levant-Agencies
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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