Helmand drugs factory destroyed

Guns Magazine, August, 2008

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Royal Marines from 40 Commando have destroyed a drugs factory in the Upper Sangin Valley along with 1.5 tonnes of morphine base--the precursor of heroin.

The Commandos from Bravo Company discovered compounds in Sapwan Kala, Afghanistan also uncovered evidence--some in English--of bank accounts, along with a weapons cache and identity cards.

Part of Operation Ghartse Dagger, Bravo Company's 4 Troop began clearing through compounds in the north of Sapwan Kala at first light, talking to villagers as they went, hoping to find evidence of the heroin trade.

Second Lieutenant Tom Williams, the Officer Commanding 4 Troop, said, "On entering the compounds it became obvious they were used in drug production. The lads in my Troop know what to look for in these circumstances and soon found the initial morphine base material and the chemicals needed for heroin production"

Housed across several compounds, the Marines found drug production on an industrial scale, including presses, sacks of chemicals and centrifuges. By far the most important find, however, was a huge number of bags of morphine base.

They also unearthed details of financial transactions alongside identification papers, weapons and personal effects, which suggested the factory had been in operation for at least a decade. The workers and owners, however, had disappeared, apparently in a hurry.

Added 2nd Lt Williams, "Having taken samples for further tests, we gathered together the drugs and chemicals in a safe location and prepared them for disposal."

The factory was destroyed by Gurkhas of 69 Field Squadron, the Queen's Gurkha Engineers, who have been attached to 40 Commando for the duration of their deployment.

Operation Ghartse Dagger involved Royal Marines of 40 Commando's Bravo Company and other attached ranks entering the area around Sapwan Kala in the Upper Sangin Valley after intelligence reports had suggested that insurgents fleeing Musa Qaleh after its fall in November 2007 had moved there to regroup.

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The operation was designed to deny Taliban groups a possible safe haven and to prevent them regaining the ability to mount attacks against the town of Sangin, which has seen considerable redevelopment since security in the area began to improve.--Courtesy MoD