Afghan commandos seize insurgent drugs, explosives in Kandahar

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan
Story by Staff Sgt. Osvaldo Equite

Date: 08.28.2013
Posted: 08.28.2013 13:21
News ID: 112762
Afghan special forces seize insurgent drugs

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army commandos destroyed 825 gallons of drugs and homemade explosives during an operation that concluded Aug. 26 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

Afghan commandos from the 7th Special Operations Kandak demonstrated their tactical proficiency by disrupting insurgent networks and exploiting enemy safe havens during a unilateral helicopter assault Aug. 23-26 in Malmand Chineh, Ghorak district.

The commandos destroyed 15 55-gallon drums of processed opium, three 5-gallon bags of unprocessed opium, 100 pounds of homemade explosives, seven initiating devices for bombs, various communications equipment, and one opium-processing machine, according to the Commandos’ report.

The three-day operation is part of an ongoing plan by Naeem Baluch, Helmand provincial governor, to disrupt the insurgent passageway between Sangin district in Helmand and Ghorak district in Kandahar.

Afghan National Security Forces are expanding operations across districts and villages, demonstrating their ability to handle complex security environments, as evidenced in Sangin and Ghorak.