AMMAN — Authorities have recorded an increase in drug-related cases
during the
Coronavirus pandemic, a senior anti-narcotics officer has
announced.
اضافة اعلان
Director of the
Narcotics Control Department Colonel Hassan
Al-Qudah said in media statements made the remark on the International Day
against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, stating that the total number of
people in detention for drug- related crimes is 14,000 currently.
In the period ending June 22 this year, he told Al-Mamlaka TV,
there were 2,284 cases of drug trafficking and dealing, compared with 1,651
cases in the same period last year. The total drug cases was 9,356 in the same
time span in 2020, the year which saw total lockdowns for weeks after the
outbreak of the pandemic in March. The Number was slightly higher in the first
six months of this year, recorded at 9,360.
Jordan was not alone as Covid-19 hit the world.
Most countries have reported a rise in the use of cannabis. In
surveys of health watchdogs across 77 countries, 42 per cent asserted that
cannabis use had increased. In the same period, there was a rise in the use of
non-medical pharmaceutical drugs.
Jordan witnessed a noticeable rise in the use, possession and
trafficking of drugs in Jordan over years span between 2016 and 2020. In
2020, 3,937 cases of drug dealing were recorded while 16,118 cases of drug
abuse were recorded during the same year.
In the years of 2019 and 2020, crimes due to both possession and
trafficking of drugs grew in number to 16,359 in 2019 alone, and 16,118 in
2020, according to statistics.
In an interview with Jordan News, Thahir Al-Qurshi a crime
specialist said: “There are two reasons that can lead to drug crimes, a
subjective cause stemming from the individual and their personal pleasure to
try a certain substance, or the individual has experience and brings on a
second party to join them in the act. Drug addictions of this sort are often
present among groups of friends.”
He added, “Drug use/ addiction issues may stem from psychological
and family pressures which cause the individual to escape their reality and get
involved with drug use to relieve their personal crisis.”
By reaching out to substances as temporary redeemers, drug addicts
often risk more trouble for themselves than what they had started with
initially.
“Drug users often expand their circle and promote substance abuse,
to both find a financial and entertainment partner”, according to Qurshi. “Such
individuals are likely to manipulate people into accepting their offers.”
“Addicts often place substances in one’s beverage,” according to
the expert. Crimes also include car accidents, murders, property vandalism, all
due to the absence of one’s mind and all of which are major causes of many
deaths in recent years, he added.
While under the influence, addicts were found to have used sharp
weapons, and have engaged in murder crimes of family members. Substance abuse
causes irresponsible acts due to the absence of mental control, and leads them
to feel as though they are superior to all.
Citing recent studies, the pundit said Jordan has become a
corridor and destination for drug trafficking. Furthermore, the percentage of
drugs that are consumed in the country has become clear, and the cases in
addiction and treatment centers, and crimes resulting from drug cases and
related to them, are present and officially recognized.
Jordan is a transit point for smugglers due to its geographic
location between drug producing and consuming countries. An area of concern is
Jordan’s border with Syria. Jordanian border guards have responded to several
illegal smuggling attempts, noted Qudah, citing “huge quantities seized” in
these operations.
“This crime is an international crime, not a local Jordanian
crime. There must be an increase in the efficiency of the agencies concerned
with drug-related law enforcement,” Qurashi concluded.
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