Troops Seize Explosives Cache in Helmand Province

American Forces Press Service

Jan. 13, 2010 - Afghan and international forces seized a large explosives cache, captured two insurgents and confiscated their weapons in Afghanistan in recent days, military officials reported.

A combined patrol of Afghan soldiers and International Security Assistance Force troops discovered a significant cache of explosives in Helmand province today. The patrol found nine jugs of homemade explosives totaling 250 pounds, 12 pressure plates, 17 radio-controlled bomb initiators, 5 pounds of aluminum powder, 35 pounds of ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer and 15 pounds of sugar. All explosives were rigged to explode with detonation cord and 200 rounds of machine gun ammunition.

The combined unit cordoned the area and requested a military team to dispose of the cache.

In other operations in Afghanistan this week:

-- A combined Afghan-international force searched a compound in Logar province's Mohammad Agha district last night and captured a Taliban operative responsible for the movement of explosives, weapons and makeshift bombs. One insurgent was killed in the assault. The security force recovered a shotgun and automatic rifles.

-- In Zabul province last night, a combined force searched a compound in the Qalat district and captured a Taliban operator with knowledge of multiple militant networks.

-- In Khost province Jan. 10, Afghan border police and ISAF forces seized munitions from insurgents including four 82 mm mortar rounds, a 75 mm recoilless rifle round, four 76 mm recoilless rifle rounds, 31 rocket-propelled grenade rounds, 12 chest racks, several heavy machine-gun rounds, RPG boosters and Afghan army and police uniforms.

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