Coalition Forces Detain Militants, Find Weapons in Afghanistan

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2011 – Afghan and coalition troops captured several insurgents, including a Taliban facilitator, in recent operations throughout Afghanistan, military officials reported.

Troops detained the Taliban facilitator yesterday in Kandahar province’s Kandahar district, where he reportedly plans and coordinates weapons trafficking operations.

In other news throughout Afghanistan:

-- Security forces detained a suspected drug trafficker Feb. 22 in Kandahar province’s Zharay district. He was found with more than 550 pounds of hashish and 100 pounds of poppy seeds.

-- Afghan and coalition forces also found other drug and weapons caches Feb. 22 throughout Afghanistan. The operations resulted in seizure of 1,540 pounds of opium, 10 blocks of TNT, six anti-tank mines, five dynamite sticks, four mortars and various bomb-making materials.

-- Forces detained several suspected insurgents and found a weapons stockpile Feb. 21 in Helmand province’s Kajaki district. The operation resulted in seizure of 4,200 pounds of ammonium nitrate -– a banned fertilizer often used in roadside bombs -– and five assault rifles.