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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 31, 2003
Release Number: 03-05-117


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


COALITION AND IRAQI POLICE WORK TO MAKE IRAQ SECURE (May 31, 2003)

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait -- Coalition Forces continue to aggressively patrol Iraq to eliminate crimes against people and property, rid populated areas of weapons, ammunition and explosives, and stop the black market trade in fuel and other commodities. 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:

Marines from 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment raided a suspected arms market in Abu Sukayr (An Najaf Governate) yesterday. They detained two people and seized five AK-47 rifles.

Marines from 3d Battalion, 7th Marines conducted vehicle checkpoint operations yesterday in Karbala. They detained several individuals for illegal weapons possession and confiscated two AK-47 rifles, a light machine gun and several pistols.

A patrol from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, stopped a vehicle recently in Salah Ah Din province. They detained the driver and a passenger, and seized 10 AK-47 rifles, 2 rocket-propelled grenade launchers with 60 rounds, 2 light machine guns, over 50 mortar rounds (60 mm), and about 50 boxes of assorted ammunition.

Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division raided a weapons cache near Al Habraniyah recently. They seized nine AK-47 rifles, several light machine guns and two rocket-propelled grenades.

Soldiers from the 173d Airborne Brigade, 4th Infantry Division raided a house in Baba Gurgur yesterday after snipers fired on their patrol. They detained seven people and confiscated various weapons.

Police Activity in the Last 24 Hours:

Coalition Forces conducted 17 raids and a total of 2,537 patrols throughout Iraq. Of those patrols, they conducted 274 joint Iraqi and Coalition patrols. They also detained or arrested 379 individuals.


Recent Police Activity:

Iraqi citizens in Baghdad are increasingly supporting local authorities by reporting unexploded ordnance (UXO) to Iraqi police and Coalition Forces in an effort to make their neighborhoods safer. In the last two days, local residents provided the following information:

- Several boxes of 120 mm anti-aircraft ammunition
- 11 rounds of 155 mm ammunition
- Several rounds of 130 mm ammunition
- 6 rocket-propelled grenade rounds
- 2 mortar rounds
- Several hand grenades
- 2 rounds of 20mm ammunition
- An antipersonnel mine

In each case, Iraqi police and Coalition Forces secured the site and called explosive ordnance disposal experts to remove the dangerous items.

As of today, a total of 8,785 Iraqi police reported for work. Coalition Forces have issued more than 2,300 police uniforms.

An Iraqi citizen recently reported the location of a possible weapons cache inside a house in Baghdad to a joint patrol of Iraqi police and soldiers from the 549th Military Police Company. The patrol raided the house and seized six AK-47 magazines and almost 200 rounds of ammunition. No one was in the house when they raided it. They took the ammunition to a U.S. military weapons collection point.

Iraqi police in Baghdad and soldiers from the 549th Military Police Company recently served a warrant on two Iraqi men wanted for murder. The suspects fired on the joint patrol when they arrived at their residence. The patrol raided the residence and apprehended the men without injury to anyone. They took both suspects to the Police Academy Jail.

Iraqi police and soldiers from the 549th Military Police Company responded to the sound of shots fired from inside a Baghdad marketplace recently. The Iraqi police identified the shooter and observed him get into a vehicle. The patrol stopped the vehicle and searched it. They apprehended the suspect and took him to the Althawara Police Station. They seized an AK-47 rifle, a sub-machine gun and about 80 rounds of ammunition. They took the weapons and ammunition to a U.S. military police collection point.

Iraqi police and soldiers from the 233d Military Police Company responded to a complaint of a stolen vehicle in Baghdad recently. The victim told the joint patrol that several men had stolen his vehicle. The patrol went to the location where the owner last saw the vehicle and apprehended five men. They confiscated a pistol and hand grenade from them. Iraqi police took the victim and car thieves to a police station. The police checked the vehicle registration and then returned it to the owner. They took the pistol and grenade to a U.S. military police collection point.

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