| Jordan is placed in the upper range of medium human development countries with an HDI rank of 87 out of 174. Much of the economic activities in Jordan and consequently its benefits are centered around the capital Amman. The government has initiated a limited economic decentralization policy to address this problem. There are however still considerable segments of the society (23.5%) which live below a poverty line of US$ 2 per day. About 75% of Jordan is sparsely populated desert or semi-desert areas. Only 5% of its surface are registered as cropland. Lack of water is one of the greatest barriers to Jordan’s development.
The main road network is paved and in good condition. Jordan hopes to be able to exploit this network as a crossroad for transporting goods both from its port Aqaba in the south and, with progress in the Peace Process, from the Israeli Mediterranean coast to the Arab hinterland. This strategic position makes Jordan a crossroad for drug trafficking in the Middle East.
Overview of Drug Control Situation
Jordan has ratified all international drug control conventions. It is also a party to the Unified Arab Law. Jordan is a member of the Interpol, the League of Arab States, the Organization for Social Defense against Crime and the Pan Arab Bureau for Narcotic Affairs.
There is no illicit drug production or cultivation of illicit drugs reported for Jordan. Significant quantities of South-west Asian morphine and heroin processed in Turkey and Lebanon, are transported to Syria and then via Jordan to Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States. There are also reports on onward trafficking from Egypt to Europe.
The main drug control concern of the Jordanian Authorities in the past years has been the upsurge in heroin trafficking. According to statistics of the Jordanian Anti-Narcotic Department, heroin seizure trends between 1992 and 1995 was downward. This could be due to tighter control measures and penalties for illicit drug trafficking in neighbouring countries and through the eradication of illicit cultivation in the Lebanese Bekaa Valley.
However, seizures of heroin increased again from10.6 kg to 67.4 kg in 1996 and 82.4 kg in 1997. Moreover, the average amount seized in one operation has increased significantly. This may be an indication that the country is increasingly used for wholesale operations by traffickers. 1998 figures dropped again to 52.4 kg. Seizures of heroin have been restricted to the main route between the border crossing with Syria at Ramtha and at the exit points at Aqaba towards Egypt and Saudi Arabia. According to Jordanian law enforcement officials, the increase in trafficking may have also contributed to the increase of drug abuse within the country through trickle-off effects.
Seizures of stimulants, (mainly Fenetylline - Captagon) in Jordan have increased dramatically from 65,773 units in 1994 to 2,586,500 units in 1996 and 2,800,000 units in 1997 indicating the continuation of trafficking from production sites in Central and Eastern Europe to the Gulf.
There are few statistical data available on drug abuse in Jordan. An epidemiological survey on drug abuse at high schools is planned in the near future. Several UNDCP counterparts felt that the drug abuse, particularly heroin, has increased in the past years. This is mainly attributed to two factors: (a) the repatriation of some 300,000 Jordanian nationals after the Gulf war with increased social stress in the society and for an increased number of individuals: (b) first trickle-off effects of increased heroin trafficking in the country.
Drug abuse was reported to be a mainly male problem with the average age around 25. However, patients in the drug treatment center, interviewed by UNDCP, felt that up to 25% of addicts were women. There are no official facilities for women; they thus have to resort to private clinics. In case of need the costs for the treatment would be subsidized by the state.
The Jordanian Authorities feel that the illicit drugs of choice were sedatives, followed by opiates and heroin. First signs of an increased abuse of volatile substances had been observed among the poor youth. In addition, an increasing abuse of stimulants diverted from the licit market was reported. Heroin was reported to be mainly smoked and there appeared to be little poly-drug abuse among heroin addicts.
The only existing treatment and rehabilitation centre to date is part of the Jebel Wabdi police station in Amman with a capacity of 20 beds. A new centre, under the authority of the Ministry of Health, is being established and is envisaged to become operational in 1999.
Jordan has been a regular participant in the annual meetings of the Arab Office for Narcotic Affairs, which is part of the Arab Interior Ministers Council. It has been attending CND meetings regularly and responding positively to INCB's requests for reporting. Jordan also participated in the Demand Reduction Forum, which was held in Abu Dhabi in February 1997.
The control structure in Jordan involves four entities: (i) the Anti- Narcotics Department (AND); which is responsible for the coordinating all of Jordan's enforcement efforts against drug trafficking and misuse. Any drug-related matter must be communicated to (AND); (ii) the Desert and Border police, responsible for patrolling the vast border areas with Syria and Saudi Arabia and the desert areas; (iii) the General Customs Department, responsible for general customs duties and also the and anti-smuggling patrol work in the area near the Saudi Arabia borders, in the port and ferry areas of Aqaba and Queen Alia airport; (iv) the Jordanian Military, which control part of borders.
There is, in principle, an Inter-Ministerial Committee to oversee drug control matters in the country. The Committee, however, lacks the ability to ensure an appropriate implementation of its decisions and to provide effective coordination among the various government agencies involved in drug control matters.
UNDCP provided assistance to Jordan from 1986 to 1991 in the field of law enforcement. Jordan joined Israel, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority in the UNDCP- sponsored sub-regional cooperation and attended UNDCP first meeting held in Cairo in July 1995. The country has excellent relations with the UNDCP Cairo Regional Office. This is due to the confidence building and trust the Office developed with Jordan. As a result, the Government fully cooperated with the Office and positively responded to its request to the UNDCP Subregional Consultations on Drug Control in the Middle East, in Amman in February 1999. This was essential for the success of this meeting. A delegation of the country also actively participated in the Consultations.
Jordan is the strategic hub of UNDCP’s Subregional Drug Control Programme for the Middle East, due to its location at one of the main trafficking routes in the region and its traditional role as a mediator between the opposing political groupings in the Middle East.
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