Authorities in Jordan have seized over six million amphetamine-type pills hidden in date paste at the border with Iraq.

About a tonne of the stimulant named Captagon (fenethylline) was captured by the Jordanian Customs Department in one of the country’s largest-ever seizures of drugs on Sunday, 25th December.

Customs officers reportedly found the six million pills hidden in date paste inside two refrigerated lorries at the only Iraq-Jordan border crossing named Karameh.

They said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “During the thorough inspection and actual inspection of two ‘Brad’ lorries with foreign plates coming from a neighboring country, the narcotic pills were found professionally hidden and difficult to detect inside date paste in the cargo section.”

The drug dubbed ‘the poor man’s cocaine’ which is predominantly produced in Syria, affects the central nervous system causing aggression, detachment, cognitive enhancement and alertness.

At the peak of the Syrian civil war, it was often laced with caffeine and given by militant groups to fighters to boost their energy and give them strength.

With poverty in Syria increasing over the years, many ordinary citizens got involved in the trade, which is now worth far more than any legal exports.

In addition, sources have linked many important business and military personalities to the production and manufacturing of the drug, despite Syrian authorities denying the rumours.

Captagon exports from Syria to neighbouring countries such as Lebanon and Jordan had a market value of about GBP 3 billion in 2020.

Authorities stated that it is currently unclear where the pills were to be sold or how many people were involved in the incident.