CANADIAN SOLDIERS SEIZE $3M IN OPIUM AFTER FIREFIGHT

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Canadian soldiers have confiscated an
estimated $3 million in opium from a mud-walled Taliban compound after
an outnumbered Canadian reconnaissance patrol held off more than two
dozen fighters until additional firepower arrived.

"It confirms what we knew but hadn't seen -- the physical evidence
that there is a direct connection between Taliban activities and the
drug trade here," said Lt.-Col. Ian Hope, commander of the Canadian
battle group in southern Afghanistan.

"The Taliban is funded in large part by the opium trade."

Afghanistan is the world's largest producer of opium, which is refined
into heroin.

In the 30-minute firefight Thursday, one Canadian soldier survived a
bullet to the back when the slug hit the armour plate in his flak vest.

Thursday's engagement was followed yesterday by more fighting for
Canadian troops, who engaged twice with the Taliban in Helmand
province, but suffered no casualties.

After Thursday's battle, troops found five dead Taliban, but believe
many more were killed.

"The enemy is very good at policing up their own battlefield," said
Capt. Jon Hamilton, who led the reconnaissance mission.

"They'll pick up their own dead."

A search of the Taliban compound turned up sacks of opium paste,
totalling more than 70 kilograms, an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade)
launcher, four rockets, an AK-47 and ammunition, a passport and documents.

"We did achieve some element of surprise," Capt. Hamilton said.

"If they knew we were coming, they probably wouldn't have left that
stuff out."