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6 tons of illegal drugs seized in Afghanistan

Marines and Afghan border police recently seized more than six tons of illegal drugs during operations in southern Afghanistan.

Members of the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, a Reserve unit based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., and local border police found about 13,200 pounds of processed opium and about 175 pounds of processed, refined heroin in Helmand province, according to a 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade release.

The illegal drugs, along with weapons and materials to make improvised explosive devices, were discovered in two abandoned trucks last week during a five-day operation where Marines and border police targeted enemy trafficking routes in southern Helmand.

In another seizure, more than 2,600 pounds of processed opium was confiscated.

Read more in next week’s issue of Marine Corps Times.