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NEWS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

May 27, 2003
Release Number: 03-05-99


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


COALITION FORCES AND IRAQI POLICE WORK TO MAKE IRAQ SECURE

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait -- Coalition Forces continue to aggressively patrol Iraq to eliminate crimes against people and property, as well as weapons sales, explosives and black market items, such as fuel. Coalition Forces also continue to conduct joint security patrols with Iraqi police in their efforts to increase the professionalism of the police force and prepare them for their role in a self-governed Iraq.

Coalition Activity:

The U.K. 7th Armored Brigade recently broke up a major crime ring in Al Basrah that was stealing copper from various sources, including unexploded ordnance and electric cable. The criminals were melting and smuggling it out of the region. They detained 20 Iraqis; 12 were released shortly afterwards because they were minors. The unit confiscated large quantities of copper wire, brass ammunition casings, a boat and two foundries. The theft of electric cable has resulted in considerable damage to both the oil infrastructure and electrical power grids.

Soldiers from the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment conducted a raid in Baghdad yesterday where a local automobile "chop shop" was operating and shut it down.

Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, raided a site in the Bayji area where they suspected Fedayeen personnel were hiding. They detained 18 people, including two Fedayeen leaders.

Marines from the 1st Battalion, Fourth Marines conducted a cordon and search operation in Al Hillah yesterday to find Iraqis who were wanted by Coalition Forces. Information they gained from the operation enabled them to identify a suspected safe house for former Regime members. They detained two Iraqis for questioning.

Soldiers from the 988th Military Police Company arrested two Iraqis who attempted a car jacking at a local fuel distribution point in An Nasiriyah yesterday. Local citizens alerted the military policemen concerning the attempted crime. One of the Iraqis threw a hand grenade at them, but it failed to detonate.

U.K. soldiers detained two Iraqis in the vicinity of Al Basrah yesterday after responding to reports of automatic weapons fire. They also seized several AK-47 rifles. The shooting was attributed to a family feud.

Police Activity in the Last 24 Hours:

Coalition Forces conducted 18 raids and 2,057 patrols throughout Iraq. Of those patrols, Coalition Forces conducted 201 with Iraqi police. They also detained or arrested 207 individuals. Highlights of police activities include:

An Iraqi police patrol turned in an assortment of weapons, weapons parts and money recently to soldiers from the 614th Military Police Company who were assisting them in manning a police station in Baghdad. The weapons included a 9mm pistol, a grenade, AK-47 rifle magazines and the sight to a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. The cash, stolen from Baghdad banks during the Coalition Forces' bombing campaign, totaled about 30,000 Iraqi dinar and $30,000 U.S. dollars. Iraqi police seized the money from a gang member after one of the other gang members double-crossed the others and left them behind during a bank robbery. The gang member then began trading the U.S. dollars for Iraqi dinars. Iraqi police obtained a warrant from a Baghdad judge to search the house of the double-crossing gang member's uncle. The subject and the uncle are in the hands of Iraqi police while the they investigate the situation.

Soldiers of the 615th Military Police Company and Iraqi police recently apprehended a burglar who broke into a home in Baghdad during the night and stole several gold rings and a DVD/CD player. The Iraqi police detained the suspect, who was charged with the crime and now awaits his trial.

A patrol from the 615th Military Police Company recently worked with Iraqi police in Baghdad to arrest an Iraqi man who made threats against the life of another citizen. They seized four rocket-propelled grenade rounds and several grenades during a search of his house. The suspect claims that he was a brigadier general in the Iraqi Border Forces. He is currently being detained at a Baghdad police station.

A joint patrol that included the 549th Military Police Company and Iraqi police responded to a report yesterday that an Iraqi man had just been carjacked in Baghdad. The joint patrol, with the assistance of an element of the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment, arrived at the scene and apprehended several men who the victim identified. They searched the car and confiscated several AK-47 rifles, two cases of AK-47 ammunition and a revolver. The victim claimed that a large amount of cash was stolen, but the police did not recover it. The joint patrol took the carjackers to the Police Academy jail.