ISAF, ANSF destroy narcotics and contraband in southern Afghanistan

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

06.06.2009

Courtesy Story

International Security Assistance Force HQ Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan - International Security Assistance Force and Afghan national security force troops confiscated and destroyed a cache of narcotics and ammonium chloride on June 5, during operations in southern Afghanistan.

The cache contained 1.5 tons of opium, 2 kilograms of morphine and several bags of ammonium chloride, which is used to refine narcotics.

Security forces discovered the contraband, with the opium having a local value of approximately $84,000, during counter insurgency operations in Sangin District.

The narcotics and ammonium chloride were subsequently destroyed by ISAF.

The confiscation and destruction of this contraband demonstrates the skill and resolve of Afghan security forces, ISAF, and coalition forces in successfully targeting illegal activities that finance the insurgency.

Funds gathered from the narcotics trade encourage corruption, and pay for the weapons and explosives that insurgents use to kill innocent civilians, ANSF, ISAF and coalition forces.

This latest success in the fight against the illegal narcotics industry and the insurgency follows ANSF, ISAF, and coalition forces recent seizing of significant quantities of drugs following operations in eastern Afghanistan, and in the Marjah area of Helmand province.

• Date Taken: 06.06.2009
• Date Posted: 06.06.2009 13:02
• Story ID: 34647
• Location: KABUL, AF