60 Afghan militants slain, drugs seized

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 23 (UPI) -- Sixty militants have been killed and 200,000 pounds of narcotics seized during a joint Afghanistan-U.S. commando operation, officials said Saturday.

The four-day operation was carried out in the Helmand Province city of Marjah, where the town bazaar was considered a hub for drug trafficking and processing, CNN reported.

U.S. officials said in a statement that the commando force launched coordinated airstrikes against drug-making facilities, seizing about 200,000 pounds of drugs. They said the haul included 37,000 pounds of black tar opium, 440 pounds of processed heroin and 165,000 pounds of poppy seeds.

"The commandos and their coalition partners relentlessly penetrated an area militants and criminals considered a safe haven, again proving they will not be denied access to any area in this country," Col. Greg Julian, a spokesman for the U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, told CNN.