Release # 03-05-75

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait -- Coalition Forces continue to aggressively patrol to make Iraq safer for everyone by eliminating smuggling and trade in weapons and explosives. Coalition Forces also continue to conduct training and joint security patrols with Iraqi police in efforts to increase the professionalism of the police force and prepare them for their role in a self-governed Iraq.

Task Force 'Vigilant Justice' Conducts First Raid

Fifth Corps' Task Force Vigilant Justice conducted its first raid Monday night against a site in Baghdad suspected of housing weapons dealers.

The raid targeted a café in the Baghdad neighborhood of Kadhimyah, which was suspected of harboring criminal elements. The task force detained 15 suspects and seized eight AK-47 rifles, several forged passports and identity documents, narcotics and over 30 million Iraqi Dinars.

The suspects are being held pending a magistrate's determination as to their involvement in the illegal arms trade.

Military investigators and prosecutors will continue to build cases for prosecution by Iraqi authorities. More raids are planned by the task force as part of an aggressive effort to fight serious crime in Baghdad.

The new task force was formed by V Corps to target criminals for arrest and subsequent prosecution in Iraqi criminal courts. The task force is composed of U.S. Military Police, Baghdad Police and military prosecutors. It is part of a comprehensive effort by V Corps to bring law and order to Baghdad.

Fifth Corps has returned over 7,000 local police to duty in Baghdad, conducted dozens of joint U.S. and Iraqi police patrols, reopened over 20 police stations, established a criminal detention facility, and reopened criminal and civil courts in the city. A refurbished city prison is scheduled to open in late May.

Coalition Activity:

Fourth Infantry Division soldiers raided a house suspected of belonging to Hani Abd Al-Latif Al-Tilfah Al Tikriti, #7 from the "Top 55" list early this morning. The soldiers confiscated numerous AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, bags of money and an address book. Soldiers detained seven individuals, including one woman who may be the wife of Al-Tilfah.

Soldiers from the 1139th Military Police Company and Iraqi police seized a suspected stolen truck and an AK-47 rifle after making a traffic stop in Baghdad on Sunday. In another traffic stop in Baghdad the same day, they seized two AK-47 rifles and an automatic weapon.

Soldiers from the 615th Military Police Company and Iraqi police investigated a report that four or five men were looting, occupying the homes of local civilians and terrorizing the local Baghdad populace on Sunday. They searched a house and detained one person who was armed with an AK-47. Iraqi police are holding the suspect while they conduct an investigation.

A joint 204th Military Police Company and Iraqi police patrol investigated a report of a robbery in Baghdad on Sunday. Iraqi police determined that the suspect, a 14 year-old male, had stolen 10,000 Dinar from another 14 year-old male. Iraqi police made the suspect return the money. They also confiscated an AK-47 rifle from the suspect's house.

Soldiers from the 549th Military Police Company assisted Iraqi police in searching a vehicle that may have been stolen in Baghdad on Sunday. The driver was determined to be the owner, but two AK-47 rifles and three pistols were confiscated.

Soldiers from the 977th Military Police Company raided a home in Ad Dinwaniyah last night. They arrested 20 people and confiscated $5.5 million U.S. dollars. The military police took the money to the U.S. Marine's Force Service Support Group for safekeeping. An AK-47 rifle and pistol were also seized in the raid.

First Brigade Combat Team, 3d Infantry Division, soldiers raided a site last night in Baghdad where Fedayeen and former regime agents were thought to be located. They detained eight Iraqis for questioning.

A patrol from 3d Battalion, 23d Marine Regiment, engaged about 20 armed Iraqis in Al Kut last night, resulting in two Iraqis killed and one wounded. There were no friendly casualties, and they detained 11 Iraqis.

Marines found one dead and one wounded Iraqi yesterday in Karbala after a local police officer told them about a shooting. The wounded Iraqi is suspected of murdering the other Iraqi. He was transported to the Karbala police station on a charge of murder.

Soldiers from the 173d Airborne Brigade raided a site containing suspected paramilitary forces early this morning in Baghdad. They detained 22 people for questioning.

Marines from 2d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment assisted police in preventing the theft of several trucks from the As Samawah Ministry of Education building yesterday. The police chased the thieves after an exchange of gunfire, but were unable to detain them.

Local police and United Kingdom soldiers interrupted a carjacking in Al Basrah yesterday afternoon. Armed with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, they shot and wounded one of the carjackers. A news team from Reuters that accompanied the patrol taped the incident.

Police Activity in the Last 24 Hours:

Coalition Forces conducted four raids and 1,182 patrols throughout Iraq. Of those patrols, they conducted 226 with Iraqi Police. They also detained or arrested 222 individuals. The following are highlights of the patrolling effort:

Baghdad: Coalition Forces conducted two raids and 548 patrols. Of those patrols, they conducted two with Iraqi police. The raids and patrols resulted in 182 arrests for various crimes, including looting, curfew violations, weapons violations and theft. They also seized 50 rifles, 48 pistols, two rounds of mortar ammunition, five rocket-propelled grenade launchers and a truck.

Mosul: Coalition Forces conducted 543 patrols. Of those patrols, they conducted 150 with Iraqi police. Their activities resulted in five arrests for various crimes, including selling weapons and fuel on the black market. They also seized a light machine gun, several AK-47 rifles, two pistols, one benzene and one propane fuel trucks.

Ad Dinwaniyah: Coalition Forces conducted 11 joint patrols with Iraqi police. They arrested 20 individuals for various crimes and seized an AK-47 rifle, a pistol and $5.5 million Dinars.

Baqubah: Coalition Forces conducted one raid and 18 patrols. Of those patrols, they conducted two with Iraqi police. They arrested seven individuals for carrying weapons and large sums of money. They also seized two AK-47 rifles, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, an address book and photos of an individual on the "Top 55" list.

Tikrit: Coalition Forces conducted 15 patrols. Of those patrols, they conducted two with Iraqi police. They also arrested one person involved in a drive-by shooting and seized one AK-47 rifle with several magazines.

Al Amarah: Coalition Forces conducted one patrol. They seized nine AK-47 rifles, two pistols and a rocket-propelled grenade.

Al Basrah: Coalition Forces conducted 146 patrols. They detained 24 individuals for looting, possession of bomb-making equipment and attacking a police station. They also seized 14 AK-47 rifles with 30 magazines, one pistol, a pick-up truck and 450,000 Dinars.