KABUL, Afghanistan – A combined Afghan and coalition security force seized and destroyed an active narcotics processing facility during an operation in Baghran district, Helmand province Sunday.
The combined force recovered 20 kilograms of morphine base, 15 kilograms of wet opium, 175 kilograms of ammonium chloride, 650 kilograms of morphine waste, one large press and 120 barrels as well as a numerous narcotics precursors. Wet opium is the key ingredient in the production of heroin.
The seized material was destroyed on site. No shots were fired and no civilians were harmed during the operation.
In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:
South
Two partnered Afghan and ISAF dismounted patrols discovered drug caches totaling over a half-ton (570 kilograms) of hashish in Panjwai district, Kandahar province today. The partnered patrol also detained one suspected insurgent during the operation. The patrol collected drug samples and burned the hashish cache on site.
Also in southern Afghanistan, a coalition security force identified insurgents emplacing improvised explosive devices near Wonake Pass while conducting an operation to disrupt insurgent activity in Spin Boldak district, Kandahar province Saturday. In the course of the operation the patrol found improvised explosive device components, 11 anti-personnel mines, an RPG, four AK-47s and eight motorcycles. The security force killed several insurgents and detained one suspected insurgent during the operation.