KABUL, Afghanistan - A combined force of Afghan national security forces and ISAF came across a truck with 10 tons of fertilizer containing ammonium nitrate, a chemical often used to make IEDs, in Kandahar province today.
"Such a large amount of this chemical could have proven dangerous to the citizens of Afghanistan," said Italian Brig. Gen. Luigi Scollo. "We stand committed to assisting the citizens of Afghanistan with the rebuilding of their economy, but we must stand against products which could be dangerous to the country."
The combined force destroyed the fertilizer, returned the truck to the owner and compensated him for the fertilizer.
Ammonium Nitrate is a key ingredient of homemade explosives and is used in the creation of IEDs that kill and maim Afghan citizens, ANSF and ISAF.
In September 2009, ISAF received permission from the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to "confiscate any supplies of ammonium nitrate fertilizers being kept or transported in Afghanistan."
Farmers are urged to use fertilizers containing urea nitrate as an alternative.