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CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE Q-WEST, Iraq — Military Police officers with the 2-198th Combined Arms Battalion, Mississippi Army National Guard, detained five Sri Lankan contract workers, July 23, and recovered about $11,000 in stolen merchandise.
The Mississippi MPs initially took custody of three "third-country nationals," the military term for personnel not from Iraq or coalition nations, and, after a swift investigation, apprehended another two, all of whom were fired and returned to their home country.
"This is the largest recovery of stolen goods I have seen in five years in Iraq," said Michael R. Reyana, a contractor security manager from Houston, Texas. "The MPs did an outstanding job of tracking down the stolen items and uncovering what we believe was a theft-ring that had operated here for a few months."
Staff Sgt. Jonathan E. Williams, a native of Grenada, Miss., said he was flagged down by a salesman from Katar Plaza, one of the Turkish-operated shopping facilities on base, during a routine patrol, who told him that three TCNs had stolen from his store.
The alleged shoplifters were caught, though, when they tried to enter a secure facility.
"I saw them running from the Katar Plaza salesman," said Edgar Mugabi, an EOD-T security specialist from Kampala, Uganda. "When they would enter our compound, I stopped them with my weapon."
MPs found missing merchandise on the men.
"We searched the TCNs and found a backpack full of watches, shoes, women's clothing, t-shirts, pants, cologne, perfume, and other stuff from Katar Plaza," said Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth E. Guess, a native of Nettleton, Miss. "When we expanded our investigation to their living area, that's when we realized this was more than just a few guys shoplifting."
The MPs recovered hundreds of retail items, many still hung with price tags from Katar Plaza. The two additional TCNs were at work during the search, but the MPs coordinated with the contractor security team to apprehend them.
"We have not had problems like this before. When we noticed the shelves getting empty over the last days, we were so happy that business was good. Then we saw the thieves," said Abit Basak, supervisor of Katar Plaza.
The Turkish civilians operating Katar Plaza, akin to a small strip mall, appreciated the help from the MPs.
"The MPs helped us a lot," said salesman Asalan Kasim, of Sanliurfa, Turkey. "We are very grateful."
The Soldiers of the 2-198th CAB take their role seriously.
"We just want to show the community that we're here for their well-being," said Capt. Demetrius Q. Wilson, provost marshal, and native of Crawford, Miss. "Also, we want to show anyone thinking about committing a crime that we mean business."
| Date Taken: | 07.23.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.31.2009 07:09 |
| Story ID: | 36995 |
| Location: | QAYYARAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 212 |
| Downloads: | 200 |
This work, Mississippi Guardsmen recover stolen merchandise at Q-West, by CPT Murray Shugars, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
