Combined Force Seizes, Destroys Drug Cache

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force confiscated a drug cache containing about 10,000 pounds of hashish during a patrol in the Zurmat district of Afghanistan’s Paktiya province today, military officials reported.

The hashish was destroyed, officials said.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- A combined force detained several suspects while searching for an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader in the Chahar Darah district of Konduz province. The leader trains insurgents to construct and use roadside bombs, recruits suicide bombers, and plans attacks throughout the district.

-- In the Nad ‘Ali district of Helmand province, a combined force detained several suspects while searching for a Taliban leader who directs roadside-bomb and other attacks, and is linked to several kidnappings in the area.

-- A combined force captured a Haqqani facilitator and one other suspect in the Pul-e ‘Alam district of Logar province. The man directed roadside bomb attacks against coalition forces and supplied Haqqani fighters.

-- A combined force captured a Haqqani leader, detained four other suspects, and seized several weapons in the Bak district of Khost province. The leader conducted attacks in the district.

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A combined patrol confiscated a weapons cache containing 10 82mm rounds, two anti-personnel mines, one rocket-propelled grenade, 100 machine-gun rounds and one RPG motor in the Khost district of Logar province.

-- Afghan police captured a truck containing more than 14,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate in Qalat in Zabul province.