Smuggling attempt foiled at airport

AMMAN — The Anti-Narcotics Department (AND) has foiled an attempt to smuggle drugs into the Kingdom via Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), and seized 1 million narcotic pills from a farm in Azraq, the Public Security Department’s (PSD) media centre said Monday.

AND personnel received a tip that some people were planning to smuggle drugs via the airport. Investigators identified the suspects, as well as the timing and method planned for the smuggling attempt, the PSD statement said.

AND detectives, in cooperation with the QAIA anti-narcotics division, identified one suspect, an Arab national, and detained him upon his arrival. A search of his luggage yielded half a kilogramme of methamphetamine.

The investigation also led to two accomplices, one of whom is a Jordanian who was detained while the other, an Arab national, is still at large, the PSD noted.

In another incident, AND personnel raided a farm in Azraq, some 100km east of Amman, which was used for storing drugs, the PSD said, adding that security personnel apprehended a person who was at the farm and searched the property.

They found some 1 million narcotic pills and referred the suspect to the State Security Court prosecutor general, the statement added.