FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov. 30, 2008

Release Number 20083011-02

ANSF, Coalition forces disrupt militants’ narcotics activities

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghan commandos from the 205th Kandak and Coalition forces conducted a search in southern Afghanistan Sunday that yielded narcotics, weapons and bomb-making caches.

The combined forces air assaulted into an area near Maywand District, Kandahar province, about 75 kilometers west of Kandahar city.  Their search discovered more than 100 pounds of opium and more than 50 pounds of heroin; machine-gun rounds; improvised explosive device making materials; an aluminum boat; and a truck.  These materials were all destroyed on the site.  Commandos also confiscated several automatic weapons.

No Commando, Coalition forces or civilian casualties have been reported.

“It’s clear that these militants finance their activities by illegal drug trade,” said Col. Jerry O’Hara, U.S. Forces Afghanistan spokesman.  “Well, today Afghan commandos took some of their funding away.”

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