Forces Seize Drugs, Weapons in Afghanistan

American Forces Press Service

Jan. 4, 2010 - Combined Afghan and international security forces uncovered an estimated 800 cubic meters of marijuana in Afghanistan's Kandahar province today and turned the drugs over to the Afghan National Police for destruction.

Forces also discovered and destroyed more than 130 rounds of ammunition in Ghazni province and three steel, explosive-filled cylinders in Helmand province over the past two days.

Yesterday, combined forces detained an unspecified number of suspects following searches of compounds in separate operations in Helmand province and northern Kandahar City. Reports confirmed that militant activity was occurring in both areas. No shots were fired or injuries occurred in either operation.

In Jan. 2 operations:

-- An Afghan-international security force captured a senior Taliban commander and four other militants in a compound in Kunar province. The commander identified himself when confronted by the security force.

-- Forces captured a Taliban facilitator and another militant in Wardak province. Both were captured during a search of a compound after militant activity was discovered.

In Jan. 1 operations:

-- Forces detained suspected militants while searching for a Taliban facilitator in Wardak province.

-- Combined forces captured Taliban facilitators suspected of planning suicide bombings and moving foreign fighters and weapons in Zabul province.

-- Forces captured the confirmed leader of a bomb-making cell in Khost province. The search also netted suspected militants, a rifle and ammunition.

-- Afghan National Police arrested an insurgent after discovering two missiles in a vehicle and two additional missiles in a house in Kabul.

In Dec. 31 operations:

-- A combined force killed a Taliban facilitator responsible for the movement of homemade bombs, weapons and ammunition and detained several militants during an operation in Wardak province. Another militant was wounded during the assault. The force's medical team treated the wounded militant and transported him to a nearby medical facility.

-- A combined force captured a Taliban facilitator in a compound just south of Kandahar City. The facilitator is responsible for the movement of weapons and explosive components. The force also found more than a ton of explosive ingredients and other bomb-making materials at the compound.

-- Forces captured a Haqqani terrorist network facilitator and detained another suspected militant in Khost province. The Haqqani facilitator is believed to be responsible for distributing mines and roadside bombs. The combined force detained another suspected militant.

-- Forces searching for a Taliban facilitator in a compound in Kandahar province detained a group of suspected militants. During the search, the force also recovered illegal weapons, including hand grenades.

(Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command news releases.)