Force Seizes Marijuana in Kandahar

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, June 28, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered 992 pounds of marijuana in the Panjwa’i district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province today, military officials reported.

The force also found rocket-propelled grenade propellant and three chest rigs.

In operations in Afghanistan yesterday:

-- A combined force captured a senior leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and detained two others in Kunduz province’s Kunduz district. The leader tried to disguise himself as a woman by wearing a burka.

-- Several insurgents were killed during a combined operation that targeted a mid-level Taliban leader in Nimroz province’s Khash Rod district. Several insurgents tried to engage the security force from elevated positions. An air weapons team killed three and two others were killed on the ground. The force confiscated and destroyed several assault rifles.

-- A combined force detained several people with suspected Taliban ties in Zabul province’s Qalat district during a search for a Taliban organizer who obtains and moves weapons for insurgents.

-- In a separate security search in Kandahar province’s Zharay district, a combined force detained a suspected insurgent.

-- A combined force found 705 pounds of wet opium in Helmand province’s Washer district, and detained several people.

-- A combined force killed an insurgent and detained another person in Ghazni province’s Deh Yak district while searching for a Taliban organizer who supports roadside and suicide bomb operations there. The force noticed the insurgent, armed with an assault rifle, attempting to flee. After an engagement ensued, the force killed the man.

-- A Haqqani terrorist network leader and two suspects were captured by a combined force in Paktika province’s Mata Khan district. The leader was responsible for roadside bomb and ambush attacks targeting Afghan security forces.