Troops in Afghanistan Capture 18, Destroy Drugs, Weapons

American Forces Press Service

May 19, 2008 - Coalition and Afghan forces detained 18 enemy fighters and destroyed caches of drugs and weapons over the past four days in Afghanistan. During an operation yesterday to disrupt the Taliban's presence in the Zadran district of Paktia province, troops nabbed four militants. Military officials said the targeted network is suspected of financing extremist operations and of waging two homemade-bomb attacks against the Afghan National Police.

In a separate operation, coalition forces captured four enemy fighters yesterday while searching compounds in the Garmsir district of Helmand province. Troops also discovered and destroyed a large drug cache during the raid.

Afghan and coalition forces seized eight militants May 16 during an operation to degrade extremist operations in Nangarhar province.

Combined forces searched compounds in the Achin district targeting a Taliban militant who participated in bombing and rocket attacks against the government of Afghanistan and coalition forces. Coalition troops also discovered and destroyed explosives, weapons, ammunition, and several bags of narcotics in the course of the operation.