Afghan sweep seizes weapons, drugs

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Source: CBC News

A large-scale military sweep in southern Afghanistan involving Canadian troops has yielded the seizure of massive weapons caches hidden in fields around a tactically crucial region in Kandahar province.

The goal of the five-day operation, planned and led by the Afghan National Army with support from Canada's Royal 22nd Regiment "Van Doos" battle group and an American company, was to find weapons and capture Taliban militants just arriving in the region.

In doing so, the coalition of 2,200 soldiers hopes to take some steam out of an upcoming spring fighting season. The mission is aimed at reducing fighting during the eventual handover of the Panjwaii district to U.S. forces this summer.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2011/02/19/afghanistan-weapons-caches923.html