UK and Afghan forces seize tonne of opium

Operation Mar Kheshta (meaning "Snake Brick" in Pashtu) saw troops from the Kings Royal Hussars, 1st Battalion Scots Guards and a Troop of 105mm guns from 4 Royal Artillery deliberately engage insurgents, allowing the Afghan strike force to move in and seize a drug-laboratory.

The Mosulmani area, which is 15km north of Sangin, was understood to be an active location for insurgents as well as containing a number of compounds believed to be involved in the collection and processing of raw opium.

As night fell on Friday 8 February 2008, troops from 1 Scots Guards, travelling in armoured Warriors vehicles, moved into position providing a screen between the target and the Green Zone to the east, where insurgent activity was expected.

Under cover of darkness, B Squadron, Kings Royal Hussars, travelling in heavily-armoured Mastiffs, transported Afghan Security Forces into the operation area. Both the British and Afghan forces spent the night laid up alongside each other in the deserted countryside before taking up position to strike at first-light.

Shortly after 0600 hours on Saturday, B Squadron moved in with the aim of transporting the Afghan strike-troops as close as possible to the target compounds. By 0750 hours, 1 Scots Guards began to take small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades from suspected insurgents. They returned fire, suppressing the attacking insurgents and allowing the swift progress of B Squadron and the Afghan forces into the target area.

With Air support flying overhead in the form of two Dutch F16s and a US Apache, the effective covering fire of the Scots Guards, and the heavy protection offered by the Mastiff vehicles, the Afghan Security Forces were able to move quickly to seize and secure several compounds.

Three compounds were secured and a search revealed a large processing plant, over 1,000kg of chemicals used to convert the opium and a huge stash of drugs, including a tonne of raw opium and around 20kg of the pure white heroin powder.

With the drugs' lab destroyed and after serious engagement with a large number of insurgents, the operation was declared complete and the troops recovered back to their Forward Operating Base having suffered no casualties.

Lieutenant Colonel Simon Millar, Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said:

"This is an excellent example of the collaborative efforts being undertaken by British and Afghan forces, targeting insurgent activity and taking action against those involved in the production and supply of drugs.

"Using the excellent mobility and protection offered by Warrior and Mastiff vehicles, troops were able to move quickly and safely into position, targeting enemy forces from the high ground and laying down effective fire to suppress their efforts to stop the operation.

"This activity enabled Afghan Security Forces to enter and search the compounds which had been correctly identified as being involved in drugs production, leading to a significant seizure of drugs as well as the chemicals and facilities used to manufacture them.

"We know that drug production is closely linked to insurgent activity; not only does it hold the local Afghan people down under oppression, but directly funds the violence that, together with the government of Afghanistan, we are committed to stop.

"This successful operation demonstrates how the Afghan Security Forces are growing in capacity and ability and how, together with the continued support of ISAF forces, we will bring stability and reconstruction to Afghanistan."