Eight suspected drug dealers arrested after shootout

AMMAN — A specialised security force and Anti-Narcotics Department personnel have arrested eight suspected drug dealers after an exchange of gunfire, a Public Security Department (PSD) statement said Thursday.

Before the raid, AND received a tip-off that the eight suspects were in possession of “a large amount of narcotics and weapons” and that they are hiding in tents in an area south of Amman, where they allegedly sell drugs. 

When the force and AND personnel raided the location, the suspects opened heavy fire at them, prompting the task force to return fire, finally arresting all eight, one of whom was injured in the foot. 

After searching the place, the task force found 8.5 palm-sized sheets of hashish, nine bags full of Captagon, 16 bags full of synthetic cannabis (locally known as “joker”), in addition to automatic weapons, ammunition, surveillance cameras and communication devices, the statement said.

In the first half of February this year, AND agents arrested 226 suspected drug dealers in 129 cases, confiscating 39kg of hashish, 21kg of synthetic cannabis, 11,000 narcotic pills, 1kg of heroin and eight weapons, according to the PSD.

Last year, AND personnel arrested 14,000 drug users of different nationalities, AND Director Brig. Gen. Anwar Tarawneh said late last month.

Tarawneh noted that Jordan remains a corridor country — rather than a destination — for drug smuggling.