AMMAN — The Border Guard units continue to foil drug and arms-smuggling attempts, having shot down 56 drones and remotely guided balloons carrying narcotics during the first month of 2026, averaging two attempts per day.

 

The Jordan Armed Forces–Arab Army (JAF) reported that counter-smuggling operations between December 30 and February 4 showed traffickers attempting to infiltrate drugs into the Kingdom by land, sea and air.

 

On one day alone, seven separate attempts were intercepted after Border Guard units reinforced surveillance along the northern, eastern and southern borders. The eastern, southern and northern military regions, as well as the Gulf of Aqaba, remain under constant monitoring.

 

All attempts to smuggle drugs, weapons and ammunition were foiled. On January 21, five separate infiltration and smuggling attempts were recorded at dawn and in the evening. On January 26, the Eastern Military Zone prevented the smuggling of narcotics via balloons equipped with advanced electronic guidance systems and thwarted three additional attempts involving large quantities of drugs carried by similar devices.

 

In early February, the Eastern Military Zone stopped two attempts to smuggle large quantities of narcotics using electronically guided balloons, while the Northern Military Zone foiled an infiltration attempt involving five individuals. The Royal Navy Force and Coast Guard prevented three attempts to smuggle weapons, ammunition and unmanned systems by sea.

 

Other notable interceptions included the Northern Military Zone stopping an infiltration attempt by five individuals on February 1, the Southern Military Region intercepting a narcotics-carrying drone along its western front on January 29, and the Northern Military Zone foiling an attempt by three individuals along its northern front. Some balloon-smuggling attempts were coordinated to distract border surveillance units, but all were successfully intercepted.

 

Despite continued efforts by traffickers, JAF officials said Border Guard units remain vigilant in protecting Jordan’s borders.