The Telegraph: Israeli criminal gangs use drones and balloons to smuggle drugs into Jordan

Israeli criminal networks are using drones and balloons to smuggle narcotics into Jordan, taking advantage of sharply higher drug prices in the kingdom, The Telegraph reported.

Officials cited by the newspaper said quadcopter drones have been used to carry crystal meth, amphetamines and hashish across the border, while military-source photographs showed balloons being used in smuggling operations.

Jordanian military sources told The Telegraph that Israeli announcements about weapons-smuggling attempts from Jordan present only part of the cross-border picture and overlook drug trafficking in the opposite direction. One source said Jordanian border guards had foiled several attempts to smuggle drugs from Israel in recent months.

Jordan's armed forces have separately confirmed repeated attempts this year to smuggle narcotics into the country using guided balloons and drones, including operations along its western border.

Figures reviewed by The Telegraph showed that Jordanian forces had seized more than 15,000 Captagon pills, nearly 20,000 kilograms of crystal meth and 6,000 blocks of hashish since the start of 2026, alongside other narcotics.

The Israeli military rejected claims that it was ignoring smuggling along the eastern border, saying it had strengthened defenses, established a dedicated division and begun construction of a new security barrier.