2008-2009 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY

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