NEWS RELEASEHEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND 7115 South Boundary Boulevard MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101 Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894 |
June 2, 2003
Release Number: 03-06-04
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COALITION AND IRAQI POLICE WORK TO MAKE IRAQ SECURE (June 2, 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.
Weapons Turn-In Program:
Iraqi citizens voluntarily turned in a variety of weapons under the Weapons Turn-In Program that began June 1. In Baghdad alone, Iraqi citizens turned in 9 AK-47 rifles, 50 heavy machine gun rounds, 35 rocket-propelled grenade launchers and a variety of small arms ammunition to Coalition Forces. They expect an increase in the number of weapons and munitions the Iraqi people will turn in as they become more confident about the value of the program. The amnesty period of the Weapons Turn-In Program will run through June 14.
Coalition Activity:
Soldiers from the 173d Airborne Brigade raided several sites yesterday in Kirkuk to capture former regime members. They captured the former personal bodyguard of Uday Hussein at one site and captured a total of six other suspected former regime members.
Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) raided a suspected black market for weapons in the Qayyarah market yesterday. They detained 18 people for questioning, and seized 92 blasting caps and 3 rolls of detonation cord.
Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division raided two sites north of Baghdad yesterday. They detained two people for questioning, and seized two AK-47 rifles and several cases of ammunition.
Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 44th Infantry Regiment raided a site in Tikrit yesterday after they observed tracer fire coming from the same direction. They detained one man for questioning, and confiscated six AK-47 rifles, several hundred light machine-gun rounds and a shotgun.
Members from 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment and U.S. Army military police worked in Al Hillah together and arrested two men yesterday for selling Liquid Petroleum Gas on the black market. They also confiscated several weapons and about 1 million Iraqi Dinar from confessed gun dealers during Al Hillah vehicle checkpoint operations.
Police Activity in the Last 24 Hours:
Coalition Forces conducted 14 raids and a total of 2,363 patrols throughout Iraq. Of those patrols, they conducted 249 joint Iraqi and Coalition patrols. They also detained or arrested 76 individuals for a variety of criminal activity, including looting, curfew violations, weapons violations, theft, larceny and dealing drugs.
Recent Police Activity:
In the last 24 hours of raids and patrolling activity, soldiers from V Corps seized 12 AK-47 rifles, 5 light machine guns, 17 rocket-grenade launchers, 11 pistols and 14 grenades. They turned the weapons into U.S. military collection points for safekeeping or disposal.
Iraqi police and soldiers from the 233d Military Police Company served a larceny warrant on an Iraqi man in Baghdad recently. They took the suspect to the Al Karrada Police Station.
Soldiers from the 204th Military Police Company raided a site in Baghdad recently to capture former regime members. They captured 16 people who were members of the Old National Police Academy Faculty and high-ranking associates in the Ba'ath Party. They took the captured former faculty and regime members to a U.S. military facility for questioning.
Iraqi police and soldiers from the 307th Military Police Company apprehended four suspects while on a joint patrol in Baghdad recently. The suspects fired on them when the patrol attempted to stop the small truck they were driving. The truck occupants attempted to flee the scene, but they disabled the truck when they tried to drive through several strands of concertina wire. The passengers fired at the patrol as they attempted to flee. The patrol members returned fire, chased after the suspects, and finally apprehended them. They searched the truck and confiscated 2 AK-47 rifles and 45 rounds of ammunition. Patrol members took the four suspects to the East Baghdad Jail, and turned the truck and contraband into a U.S. military collection point.
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