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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

June 9, 2003
Release Number: 03-06-36


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


COALITION AND IRAQI POLICE WORK TO MAKE IRAQ SECURE (June 9, 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 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, Iraqi citizens have delivered to Weapons Collection Points a total of 44 pistols, 67 semi-automatic rifles or shotguns, 232 automatic rifles, 24 machine guns, 78 anti-tank weapons (i.e., rocket-propelled grenade launchers), 101 grenades and other explosive devices.

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

Coalition Activity:

In raids and patrolling activity during the last 24 hours, the 1st Armored Division in Baghdad seized 130 AK-47 rifles, 13 pistols, 6 grenades, a sword, 3 rocket-propelled grenade launchers with 7 rounds of ammunition and numerous mortar, rifle and machine gun rounds. They also detained 87 people for crimes including murder, looting, weapons and curfew violations, car theft, larceny and drug dealing.

Soldiers from Division Artillery, 4th Infantry Divsion, raided a site near Baghdad yesterday, detaining six people. They also captured 3 AK-47 rifles, 3 handguns, 3 rocket-propelled grenade launchers with 99 rounds, 16 grenades, a 120mm mortar, large amounts of handgun, rifle and mortar ammunition, and over 104,000 Iraqi Dinars. Two Iraqis were killed in the raid.

Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) raided the house of an individual suspected of selling propane on the black market in Mosul yesterday. They arrested one suspect and confiscated 63 cans of propane. The soldiers distributed the propane to the people of Mosul.


Soldiers of the 527th Military Police Company on patrol in Baghdad recently stopped a number of Iraqis who they saw coming out of a military compound. Iraqi police arrived and detained two people for looting. The military police searched the compound and found two warehouses with about 40 aircraft mounted missiles.

Marines from the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion raided a suspected arms market in Al Yusufiya yesterday, capturing four individuals. They also took 12 AK-47 rifles, 2 light machine guns and a shotgun.

Marines from the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment raided an arms market in An Nasiriyah yesterday, capturing eight individuals. They also took 9 AK-47 rifles, 3 light machine guns, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and numerous documents and ledgers.

Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment searched five houses suspected of being arms caches near Samarra yesterday. They detained two individuals and took 10 AK-47 rifles, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, 61 hand grenades, and 7,000 rifle and light machine gun rounds.

Police Activity in the Last 24 Hours:

Coalition Forces conducted 16 raids and a total of 2,398 patrols throughout Iraq. Of those patrols, they conducted 273 joint patrols. They detained or arrested 446 individuals for a variety of criminal activities including looting, curfew violations, weapons violations, theft, larceny and dealing drugs.

Recent Police Activity:

Two Iraqi police on patrol in Baghdad recently stopped a vehicle near a police station checkpoint and found that the occupants had stolen the government owned vehicle. The two men tried to bribe the police officers with about $400 (US). The police officers arrested them and took them to the Al Baya Police Station.

Iraqi police and soldiers from the 549th Military Police Company served a warrant on two murder suspects in Baghdad recently, apprehending them without difficulty. They searched their house and found a rocket-propelled grenade launcher, a pistol, a sword and a box of heavy machine gun rounds. They took the suspects to the East Baghdad Jail, and the weapons and ammunition to a US military weapons collection point.

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