Release # 03-05-98

KIRKUK, Iraq - Soldiers from the 173d Airborne Brigade recently discovered and recovered

1,001 gold bars in the city of Kirkuk, northern Iraq during a search and seizure operation.

On Tuesday, the gold was immediately secured and transferred to the 220th Military

Police Battalion and flown by military air transport to Kuwait. The 336th Finance Command

will be responsible for the gold the until authorities make a decision on its final

disposition.

Each bar weighs approximately 20 kilos each or 2.2 pounds. The contents of the bars

has yet to be validated, but the custodial unit has already requested a goldsmith to validate their

purity and authenticity.

This latest discovery of Iraqi gold is the second of its type in the last couple of weeks.

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