Jordanian authorities destroyed 12.8 million pills of the illegal stimulant Captagon and other drugs in the largest destruction of seized narcotics to date. AFP
Jordanian authorities destroyed 12.8 million pills of the illegal stimulant Captagon and other drugs in the largest destruction of seized narcotics to date. AFP
Jordanian authorities destroyed 12.8 million pills of the illegal stimulant Captagon and other drugs in the largest destruction of seized narcotics to date. AFP
Jordanian authorities destroyed 12.8 million pills of the illegal stimulant Captagon and other drugs in the largest destruction of seized narcotics to date. AFP

MENA

Jordan

Jordan destroys 12.8 million seized Captagon pills and other drugs

Kingdom is fighting an escalating drug war on its borders with Syria

The National

March 16, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Jordanian authorities destroyed 12.8 million pills of the illegal stimulant Captagon, the General Security Directorate has said. It is the latest public display of state efforts to combat the flow of narcotics, which comes mainly from Syria.

The directorate published a photo of security personnel placing bags in a furnace and said the destruction was a result of relentless operations against traffickers "across the kingdom".

The statement, issued late on Wednesday, said the police forces are working with the military and customs units to improve intelligence and reconnaissance to stop "the entry of these substances and their passing through the kingdom".

The Captagon was destroyed along with 2.6 tonnes of hashish and three kilograms of cocaine linked to 43 drug cases, the statement said.

The seized quantities were destroyed in special furnaces at 1,000ºC, the directorate said.

Jordan has historically been a conduit of hashish flows from Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, parts of which are strongholds of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, to other parts of the region including the Gulf, as well as being a consumer market.

But in the past five years Captagon became the main illegal substance in the Levant, with the outskirts of Damascus and other regime areas in Syria acting as production centres, Arab security officials say.

Curbing the flow of Captagon from Syria partially prompted Jordan two years ago to agree to a Russian-brokered rapprochement between the kingdom and Damascus. But the movement of Captagon shows no signs of abating and last year Jordan began to blame the Syrian military and pro-Iranian militias operating along the border for the increase in drug smuggling.

Jordanian officials also said the military would respond more assertively to infiltration attempts and drug dealing inside Jordan.

Earlier this month Jordanian official media said Jordanian troops battled smugglers from Syria and arrested one of them, in another armed encounter in an escalating drug war on the kingdom's northern border with regime-held areas of Syria.

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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

 

 

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October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

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The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.

Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.

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Not taxed:

Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.

Updated: March 16, 2023, 10:21 AM
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