Jordan's airstrikes hit Syrian drug lord's hideout in fresh Captagon crackdown
Jordan’s military has carried out fresh airstrikes in southern Syria, targeting drug smuggling networks linked to Captagon. The operation follows a long-running crackdown on cross-border trafficking, which has intensified since 2022. This latest strike hit a luxury villa in the village of Orman, previously the site of a deadly attack in January. The airstrikes focused on a garage belonging to an alleged drug lord in Orman. Videos later surfaced showing the man unharmed, denying any role in the drug trade. Jordan’s forces have maintained a shoot-to-kill policy at the border since 2022 to halt smuggling attempts.
Orman was struck before in January 2024, when ten people—including two children—were killed. Human Rights Watch criticised the military’s actions during that operation. Captagon, a cheaply produced amphetamine, is frequently smuggled into Jordan from Syria, hidden in various ways before reaching Gulf markets at inflated prices. Syria’s Captagon trade expanded under the Assad regime, with reports linking regime figures and military units to production. After Assad’s fall, new Syrian leaders uncovered drug labs and began cooperating with Jordan to disrupt smuggling routes. Jordan has conducted multiple strikes in the border region, aiming to dismantle international trafficking networks.
The latest airstrikes mark another escalation in Jordan’s campaign against drug smuggling. The military’s strict border policies remain in place, while concerns persist over civilian casualties. Captagon’s production and trafficking continue to draw regional attention, with Syria’s shifting political landscape playing a key role in the crackdown.
