Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

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

June 6, 2003
Release Number: 03-06-20


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


COALITION AND IRAQI POLICE WORK TO MAKE IRAQ SECURE (June 6, 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 to 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. As of today's count, Coalition Forces throughout Iraq have received 39 pistols, 62 semi-automatic rifles or shotguns, 201 automatic rifles, 10 machine guns, 58 anti-tank weapons (i.e., rocket-propelled grenade launchers), 79 grenades and other explosive devices.

The amnesty period for the Weapons Turn-In Program will run through June 14.

Coalition Activity:

Fourth Infantry Division soldiers raided five houses in the Bayji area yesterday, capturing 17 individuals with possible Ba'ath party connections. They also captured several AK-47 rifles, explosives, various documents and Saddam Hussein paraphernalia.

Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment raided a home in Al Kut yesterday and captured a man suspected of planning and coordinating an earlier attack on Coalition forces.

In raids and patrolling activity over the last 24 hours, the 1st Armored Division in Baghdad seized 60 AK-47 rifles, 7 pistols, 3 rocket-propelled grenade launchers with 12 rounds, a sniper rifle, a shotgun, over 13,000 9mm rounds and over 137,000 rifle and light machine gun rounds. They also detained 39 people for crimes including looting, theft, weapons violations, car theft, drug dealing and curfew violations.

Soldiers from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division raided a house in Al Fallujah yesterday and captured a former Iraqi Army officer who is a Saddam supporter, Ba'ath party member and is suspected of planning and executing an attack on a traffic control point on May 26. They also captured two AK-47 rifles and a light machine gun.

Police Activity in the Last 24 Hours:

Coalition Forces conducted 6 raids and a total of 2,235 patrols throughout Iraq. Of those, they conducted 202 joint Iraqi and Coalition patrols. They also detained or arrested 210 individuals for a variety of criminal activity, including looting, curfew violations, weapons violations, theft, larceny and dealing drugs.

Recent Police Activity:

Soldiers from the 307th Military Police Company, working a day shift at the New Baghdad Police Station, recently took custody of a man who was transported to the police station by a local shop owner. The man was tied up and in the trunk of the shop owner's car. The shop owner claimed the man had recently robbed him at gunpoint as he left his shop at the end of the day. When the shop owner came to work the following day, he saw the same man trying to rob two other people at knifepoint. The shop owner and two friends attacked the robber, tied him up, and threw him in the trunk. Iraqi police took custody of the robber from the soldiers took him to the East Baghdad Jail.

Soldiers from the 233rd Military Police Company, on patrol in Baghdad, were approached by a local man who told them about an assault. He and a friend had helped stop a man from continuing to assault a woman in an alleyway. He identified the assailant and the victim. The patrol apprehended the alleged assailant and contacted the victim. The victim stated that the attacker had attempted to sexually assault her. The patrol took the suspect to the East Baghdad Jail and turned him over to Iraqi police.

A local Baghdad man approached a patrol of Iraqi police and soldiers from the 307th Military Police Company recently and reported that a man had stolen office supplies from his store. The joint patrol apprehended the alleged robber and took him to the East Baghdad Jail.

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