JORDANIAN FUGITIVE ARRESTED IN SYRIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 005417

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2015
TAGS: ASEC PTER SY JO
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN FUGITIVE ARRESTED IN SYRIA

Classified By: CDA David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Post security contacts on July 5 confirmed press
reports that Syrian authorities arrested a Jordanian
fugitive, Sharif Ayid al-Smadi, wanted in Jordan on charges
of murder, armed robbery, and theft. Jordan's state
prosecutor on June 23 had charged Smadi and two of his
brothers (Mohammed, also on the run and believed to be in
Syria, and Thaer, currently in Jordanian custody) with
plotting to commit criminal acts against citizens and their
financial assets and possessing an illegal weapon
(machinegun) with illicit intent. Syrian forces captured
Smadi following a shootout as they raided their safehouse,
according to Jordanian authorities. An unknown number of
suspects were killed in the shootout and at least one other
person was arrested. Press reports indicate that the Syrians
also arrested Mohammad al-Smadi's wife. Terrorist links have
not been ruled out, but one security official told us that
reports that the men have links to al-Qa'ida are untrue.


2. (U) According to Jordanian authorities, the Smadi
brothers have committed several crimes along with other
family members (dubbed the Udwan Mills Gang because they were
captured in a police raid in the Udwan Mills village near the
town of Sukhneh northeast of Amman). Mohammed and Sharif
have been on the run since escaping from authorities while
being escorted to court from their prison in June 2004.
Jordanian security officials are in "constant contact" with
their Syrian counterparts about the matter and will release
more information to the public as it becomes available, Head
of the Public Security Department Media Office, Major Bashir
Daaja, told reporters.

Please visit Embassy Amman's classified web site at
http://www.state.sgov/p/nea/amman/ or access the site through
the Department of State's SIPRNET home page.
HALE