Afghanistan Operations Yield Weapons, Drugs

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

May 4, 2010 - Afghan and international forces captured suspected militants and seized illegal weapons and drugs in recent Afghanistan operations, military officials reported.

-- An Afghan civilian notified a combined security patrol of unexploded ordnance this morning in Helmand province's Musa Qalah district. The patrol found two rocket-propelled grenades, a suicide-bombing vest and a detonation cord.

-- In Uruzgan province's Tarin Kot district today, an International Security Assistance Force patrol found a grenade, two RPG rounds, an RPG launcher, an assault rifle and small-arms ammunition.

-- An Afghan-international patrol saw two people running from a moped yesterday in Helmand's Nad-e Ali district and found several machine guns, three RPGs, an RPG launcher and 300 rounds of machine-gun ammunition on the moped.

-- In Uruzgan's Chorah district yesterday, a combined patrol found a grenade, an assault rifle, an anti-personnel mine, and small-arms ammunition.

-- Afghan forces working with ISAF partners conducted an operation May 1 in Helmand's Baghran Valley intended to capture insurgents responsible for roadside-bombing attacks. The combined force detained several men and seized 55 pounds of wet opium, two assault rifles with two boxes of 7.62 mm ammunition, two RPGs, a pistol and several bomb detonators and components.

Thirteen women and 15 children were protected throughout the operation, in which no civilians were injured, officials said.