R 050559Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4078
INFO AMEMBASSY NICOSIA 
DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC

UNCLAS AMMAN 000020 
 
 
STATE FOR INL, NEA/ELA, NEA/RA, DS/IP/NEA 
JUSTICE FOR OIA, AFMLS, NDDS 
TREASURY FOR FINCEN 
NICOSIA FOR DEA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR ASEC JO
SUBJECT: 2008-2009 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY 
REPORT FOR JORDAN - PART I 
 
REF: STATE 100989 
 
¶1. (U) Embassy Amman's submission for the 2008-2009 
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) 
follows.  Information was provided by the Jordan Public 
Security Directorate's Anti-Narcotics Department (PSD-AND). 
 
--------------- 
Part I: Summary 
--------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Jordan's geographical location between drug 
producing countries to the north and east and drug 
consuming countries to the south and west continues 
to make it primarily a transit point for illicit 
drugs.  The Public Security Directorate (PSD) 
believes that the volume of drugs transiting 
through Jordan continues to grow.  Historically, 
Jordanians do not consume significant quantities 
of illegal drugs, and the PSD knows of no 
production operations in the country.  Statistics 
for the first 11 months of 2008 show an increase in 
total number of cases, arrests and abusers when 
compared to 2007.  2008 has also proven to be a 
record year for seizures of Captagon with over 
14 million tablets seized.  PSD attributes increases 
to Jordan's enhanced rehabilitation programs, 
increased border interdiction operations, better 
intelligence gathering, and continued strong 
cooperation between Jordan and neighboring countries. 
The drugs of choice among users arrested for drug 
possession in Jordan are cannabis and heroin. 
The majority of people arrested for drug related 
crimes ranges between 18 and 35 years old. 
PSD continues to see an increase in drug trafficking 
through its border regions, especially with Iraq, 
and drugs transiting Queen Alia International Airport 
(QAIA).  Jordan is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. 
 
END SUMMARY 
 
-------------------------- 
Part II: Status of Country 
-------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU)  According to statistics from the PSD-AND, there 
are currently no indications that Jordan will transition 
from a predominantly drug transit country to a drug 
producer.  Jordan's vast desert borders make it vulnerable 
to illicit drug smuggling operations.  Jordanian 
authorities do not believe that internal drug distribution 
is a substantial profit-making venture. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Part III: Country Actions Against Drugs in 2007 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
 
------------------ 
Policy Initiatives 
------------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) Jordan is continuing its drug awareness campaign 
focused at educating people of the dangers of drug use. 
This includes providing educational presentations in 
schools and universities throughout the country.  The 
PSD-AND has created a program it calls "Friends of the 
AND."  This program sends volunteer civilians into the 
schools, universities, and other community centers to 
speak out against drug usage.  Jordan has also implemented 
an outreach program for the country's religious 
institutions whereby some Imams are trained and given 
literature on drug prevention topics for inclusion in 
religious services.  Jordan publishes a number of brochures 
and other materials aimed at educating Jordan's youth. 
Jordan is in its forth year of producing cartoons aimed at 
younger children designed to dissuade youngsters from 
trying drugs.  Jordan will take this program to 
the next level in the near future with anti-drug abuse 
movies directed at Jordanian youths.  PSD publishes an 
anti-narcotics magazine, and maintains a website in 
English and Arabic for drug abuse awareness and 
prevention (http://www.anti-narcotics.psd.gov.jo 
/English).  Jordan has also worked with the UNODC 
to provide drug prevention training.  In early 2006, 
Jordan offered the first of a series of drug 
interdiction training to Palestinian anti-narcotics 
officers.  In mid 2007, Jordan was included in a 
regional program to increase access to prevention 
services for drug use and HIV/AIDS in prison settings. 
In late 2007, Jordan implemented a program to strengthen 
community resources in providing drug abuse treatment 
and rehabilitation for vulnerable groups in the country. 
 
----------------------- 
Law Enforcement Efforts 
----------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Jordan's PSD maintains an active anti-narcotics 
bureau and has established excellent working relations 
with the U.S.Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 
Nicosia Country Office based.  PSD-AND has 
seen an increase in cocaine and other drug trafficking 
through QAIA and has increased interdiction efforts there. 
GOJ authorities continue to use X-ray equipment on larger 
vehicles at its major border crossings between Syria and 
Iraq, which netted numerous drug seizures in past years 
and continue to do so in 2008.  This equipment has proven 
to be very effective.  Seizures of captagon tablets have 
increased since last year.  However, recent Jordanian 
media coverage has highlighted captagon seizures giving 
the perception of increased trafficking of this drug. 
PSD claims not to have observed any wide-spread use of 
the drug in Jordan.  The PSD reports that 85% of all 
seized illicit drugs coming into Jordan are bound for 
export to other countries in the region.  Jordan's 
general drug traffic trends continue to include cannabis 
entering from Lebanon and more now from Iraq, heroin from 
Turkey entering through Syria on its way to Israel, and 
captagon tablets from Bulgaria and Turkey entering through 
Syria on the way to the Gulf. 
 
¶6. (SBU)  The majority of Jordan's drug seizures take 
place at the Jaber border crossing point between Jordan 
and Syria, although seizures from Iraq (Karama/Trebil 
border crossing) have risen significantly the past few 
years.  For the last four years, the PSD has continued 
to observe an increase in trafficking of hashish and 
opium from Afghanistan through Iraq into Jordan. 
Jordanian authorities regularly cooperate with the 
relevant anti-narcotics authorities in the region. 
In 2007-08, Jordanian officials reported that they 
conducted 22 cases during which they coordinated 
efforts with Syrian and Saudi Arabian authorities. 
 
---------- 
Corruption 
---------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Jordanian officials report no narcotics-related 
corruption investigations for the reporting period.  There 
is currently no evidence to suggest that senior level 
officials are involved in narcotics trafficking.  As 
a matter of government policy, Jordan does not encourage 
or facilitate illicit production or distribution of 
narcotic or psychotropic drugs or other controlled 
substances, or the laundering of proceeds from illegal 
drug transactions. 
 
¶8.  (U) In 2008 Jordan held the Transparency and 
Anti-Corruption Conference at the Dead Sea. 
Columnist Jamil Nimri in Arabic daily Al-Ghad commented, 
"I conclusively say that we in the region have not 
advanced much on transparency and anti-corruption 
standards." He further stated "Let's now see how much 
the Anti-Corruption Commission will do to obstruct 
corruption and to investigate any actions or deals 
or projects that smell of foul play." Jordan also 
took part in the 3rd Conference of Anti-Corruption 
Organizations Union held in Kiev in October of 2008. 
Council member of the Jordan Anti-Corruption Commission 
Ali Dmour headed the Kingdom's delegation to Kiev. 
While the anti-corruption commission forwarded its 
first corruption cases for prosecution (non-drug 
related), most observers still believe that the 
anti-corruption comission is not effective enough. 
 
----------------------- 
Agreements and Treaties 
----------------------- 
 
¶9. (U) Jordan is party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. 
Jordan continues to remain committed to existing bilateral 
agreements providing for counter-narcotics cooperation with 
Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, 
Pakistan, Israel, Iran, and Hungary.  Jordan also 
cooperates with the UNODC and the European Commission 
through a number of projects funded by the EU. 
 
-------------------------- 
Cultivation and Production 
-------------------------- 
 
¶10. (U) Existing laws prohibit the cultivation and 
production of narcotics in Jordan.  These laws have 
been effectively enforced. 
 
----------------- 
Drug Flow/Transit 
----------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) Jordan remains primarily a narcotics transit 
country.  Jordan's main challenge in stemming the flow of 
illicit drugs through the country remains its vast and open 
desert borders.  PSD-AND reports, however, that drug flow 
through QAIA is on the rise.  While law enforcement 
contacts confirm continued cooperation with Jordan's 
neighbors, the desolate border regions and the various 
tribes with centuries-old traditions of smuggling as a 
principle source of income, make interdiction outside of 
the ports of entry difficult.  None of the narcotics 
transiting Jordan are believed to be destined for the 
United States.  Jordan is bordered by Israel and the 
West Bank on the west, Syria (an outlet for producing 
countries) on the north, and Iraq and Saudi Arabia to 
the east.  Most of Jordan's borders are difficult to 
effectively patrol.  The stationary posts along these 
areas lack the equipment and training to effectively 
patrol and monitor Jordan's borders.  (See part IV, 
USG Initiatives & Programs for USG assistance to 
counter this vulnerability) 
 
---------------------------------- 
Domestic Programs/Demand Reduction 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) Jordan increased the scope of its programs on 
drug abuse awareness, education, and rehabilitation in 
¶2008.  Education programs target high schools, colleges, 
inmates, and religious institutions.  Authorities 
continue to provide educational presentations in 
schools and universities throughout the country.  As 
previously noted, Jordan created the "Friends of the AND" 
Program.  Jordan also publishes a number of brochures 
and other materials aimed at educating the country's 
youth.  Jordan's anti-narcotics cartoon program aimed 
at younger children and designed to dissuade youngsters 
from trying drugs has continued to flourish.  Cultural and 
religious norms also help to control drug use.  In 2008, 
AND conducted 872 awareness lectures in various 
institutions, organized 67 visits to AND, put on an 
anti-narcotics awareness play 5 times and actively 
participated in various fairs and media programs. 
 
 
13 (SBU) In conjunction with the UNODC, Jordan has 
strengthened its treatment and rehabilitation 
services for drug abusers in the country.   The 
Jordanian Drug Information Network (JorDIN) was 
officially established in 2005 with help from the 
UNODC. The national treatment and rehabilitation 
strategy and coordination mechanism has proven 
effective, and Jordan looks to continued success 
in this strategy.  A new, larger rehabilitation 
facility that will accommodate more patients is 
in the planning phase and PSD hopes to begin 
construction in the near future.  PSD reports that 
it has treated 203 patients at its drug rehabilitation 
center in 2007 and thus far 172 in 2008.  PSD also 
noted that another highlight of the center's success 
is the number of patients the Government of Lebanon 
has sent to Jordan for rehabilitation.  The PSD notes 
that this is an indicator of the strong levels of 
cooperation between the Governments of Lebanon and 
Jordan in their anti-narcotics efforts.  In December 
2008,  Jordanian Prime Minister Nader Dahabi remarked 
during a session at the Lower House of Parliament 
that PSD-AND has "intensive contacts, mainly with 
neighboring countries and is supported both on the 
official and popular levels. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
Part IV: USG Policy Initiatives and Programs 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
------------------ 
Policy Initiatives 
------------------ 
 
¶14. (SBU) The DEA Nicosia Country Office, RSO Amman, and 
the PSD have an excellent working relationship.  The 
DEA and the interagency Export Control and Related 
Border Security (EXBS) Program recently provided Jordan 
with additional equipment including 10 thermal eye imagers 
to help Jordan's Border security operations.  There are 
several miles of Jordan's borders that are patrolled 
only by the PSD's Anti-Narcotics Department.  In 
October 2007, EXBS provided PSD with a portable x-ray 
van for use in screening containers and vehicles at the 
Port of Aqaba.  Jordanian Customs also uses a previously 
USG donated X-ray van.  This equipment primarily screens 
for weapons, but can detect density anomalies that may 
indicate the presence of drugs and/or other contraband. 
Other ongoing GOJ and USG efforts to  strengthen border 
security measures following the Iraq-based  terrorist 
attacks in Amman and Aqaba in 2005 have served to enhance 
Jordan's detection capabilities and to disrupt the 
flow of illegal drugs transiting through Jordan. 
 
-------------- 
The Road Ahead 
-------------- 
 
¶15. (U) Post and DEA Nicosia expect continued strong 
cooperation with the Jordanian government in 
counter-narcotics efforts and related issues. 
According to Jordanian authorities the drug 
situation is still "under control" but they are 
mindful that they could face a more serious 
problem in the future.  New smuggling trends 
and new types of drugs are offering new challenges. 
Cocaine comes to Jordan from South America via 
European airports bound for Israel and other countries 
in the region.  In 2008, Jordanian authorities seized 
more than three kilograms in three different cases in 
which two Peruvian and two Argentinean couriers were 
arrested.  AND officials continued to be interested 
in seeking opportunities for training Jordanian 
officers to train with countries that have experience 
in combating drugs and the use of canines in drug detection. 
 
¶16. (U)  Department of Defense-Military Assistance Program 
(DoD-MAP) in Jordan has initiated the first phase of a 
comprehensive border security initative.  The multi-million 
dollar project will strengthen Jordan's ability to secure 
its borders with enhanced technologies. 
 
-------------------------- 
Part V: Statistical Tables 
-------------------------- 
 
¶17. (SBU) Jordan reportedly neither grows nor produces 
illicit drugs and there are no statistics regarding 
domestic cultivation or eradication. 
 
¶18. (SBU) Seizures are reported in kilograms (captagon 
seizures are measured in number of tablets; weight 
measurements are not available for tablets).  Numbers 
indicated on the 2008 statistics include January through 
November only.  2004 through 2007 numbers for this report 
cover the full year. 
 
---------------------------------- 
Calendar Year     2004        2005 
---------------------------------- 
 
Cannabis          1931.017    1485.477 
Heroin            186.12      117.842 
cocaine           32.97       .485 
Hashish Oil       -           35.5 
Captagon          9,774,002   11,158,083 
Opium             21.9        3.5 
Total Cases       1691        2041 
Arrests           2514        4792 
Abusers           2158        4027 
 
---------------------------------- 
Calendar Year     2006        2007 
 
---------------------------------- 
 
Cannabis          793.715     410.3 
Heroin            131.3       43.119 
Cocaine           5.26        7.474 
Hashish Oil       14.5        - 
Captagon          10,944,870  10,929,138 
Opium             19.928      - 
Total Cases       1973        2197 
Arrests           3158        3707 
Abusers           2577        2874 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Calendar Year     2008 (as of 17 November 2008) 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
Cannabis          793.561 
Heroin            22.577 
Cocaine           5.339 
Hashish Oil       127 
Captagon          14,005,005 
Opium             - 
Total Cases       2481 
Arrests           4339 
Abusers           3479 
 
-------------------------------- 
Part VI: Chemical Control Issues 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶19. (SBU) There is no confirmed production of precursor or 
essential chemicals in Jordan.  There were no reported 
seizures of chemicals or manufacturing facilities in 2008. 
Jordan does not meet the reporting requirements of the 
Combat Meth Epidemic Act (CMEA) "top five" methamphetamine 
precursor chemical exporting or importing countries. 
 
 
Beecroft