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'Record' Afghanistan drugs bust
U.S. and Afghan Forces Seize Biggest Drug Cache to Date
KABUL, Afghanistan — American and Afghan forces seized what the American military called the single
largest drug cache to date in a four-day operation that began Tuesday in the south of the country.
The seizure by Afghan Army commandos and American forces took place in Marjeh, a town in Helmand
Province, the American military said in a statement on Saturday. In all, soldiers found more than 101
tons of narcotics, including heroin, poppy seeds, opium and hashish. Large amounts of heroin processing
materials were also confiscated, the military said.
Heroin is a major source of income for the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the American military has said it
would be a major focus of future operations as more troops are moved into Afghanistan this summer
under President Obama’s plan.
The drugs were taken in a central market area in the town. A battle ensued in which, according to the
American military, 60 insurgents were killed. An American military spokesman said the allies met a
surprising level of resistance, fighting the militants for four days in gun battles and by aerial strikes.
The military said that commandos also found bomb-making materials, including 30 tons of ammonium
nitrate, pressure plate triggers, military grade explosives and ammunition vests.
The spokesman for the American forces, Col. Greg Julian, said the operation had “severely disrupted,”
one of the main narcotics hubs in southern Afghanistan.
U.S. and Afghan Forces Seize Biggest Drug Cache to Date
KABUL, Afghanistan — American and Afghan forces seized what the American military called the single
largest drug cache to date in a four-day operation that began Tuesday in the south of the country.
The seizure by Afghan Army commandos and American forces took place in Marjeh, a town in Helmand
Province, the American military said in a statement on Saturday. In all, soldiers found more than 101
tons of narcotics, including heroin, poppy seeds, opium and hashish. Large amounts of heroin processing
materials were also confiscated, the military said.
Heroin is a major source of income for the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the American military has said it
would be a major focus of future operations as more troops are moved into Afghanistan this summer
under President Obama’s plan.
The drugs were taken in a central market area in the town. A battle ensued in which, according to the
American military, 60 insurgents were killed. An American military spokesman said the allies met a
surprising level of resistance, fighting the militants for four days in gun battles and by aerial strikes.
The military said that commandos also found bomb-making materials, including 30 tons of ammonium
nitrate, pressure plate triggers, military grade explosives and ammunition vests.
The spokesman for the American forces, Col. Greg Julian, said the operation had “severely disrupted,”
one of the main narcotics hubs in southern Afghanistan.
