Bummer, man. “Taliban drugs factory wrecked,” by Thomas Harding for the Telegraph via The Age, February 19 (thanks to JE):
BRITISH forces have seized heroin worth £50 million ($A111.2 million) and killed at least 20 Taliban fighters in a daring raid that dealt a significant blow to the insurgents in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said.
In an operation that involved weeks of planning, 700 troops from the Royal Marines, Special Boat Service and army swooped on a Taliban drug factory and arms stronghold in the Upper Sangin Valley in Helmand province.
Snipers in hilltop positions and Warrior armoured vehicles sealed off escape routes as two waves of commandos and special forces in helicopters swept in.
At least 20 Taliban were killed as they attempted to fight off the commandos, who pushed through the stronghold. Large vats of opium were abandoned….