PSD arrests southern region’s ‘most wanted’ fugitive

AMMAN — The Southern region's most wanted fugitive, who has a murder and drug trafficking record, and was classified as “armed and dangerous” has been arrested, the Public Security Directorate (PSD) spokesperson announced on Wednesday.

A special security force followed up on reports on the fugitive’s movement, noting that he was arrested in possession of a firearm and quantities of illegal drugs while he was inside a vehicle in Maan. The fugitive has 14 prior charges, according to a PSD statement.

Also on Wednesday, the PSD said that in separate operations, personnel foiled drug trafficking attempts and arrested two drug dealers.

The spokesperson said that reports were made to the Anti-Narcotic Department (AND) that two suspects were transporting quantities of narcotics from an unspecified northern governorate toward Amman. 

The intended delivery location was determined to be in an area east of Amman. Several officers were dispatched to the area for observation at dawn on Wednesday, the spokesperson said, noting that once the police moved to arrest the suspects, one individual fired multiple shots at the officers and fled the scene.

The first individual was arrested, and the rules of engagement were implemented, leading to the injury of the other who was later hospitalised, the spokesperson added.

The operation led to the seizure of 1.25kg of a crystalline narcotic substance in addition to the firearm that was used, the statement noted.