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Leyland soldier lifts lid on drugs trade attacks
drA Leyland soldier serving in Afghanistan has revealed how attacks are closely linked to opium production in the country.
Corporal Stephen Woods is currently in southern Afghanistan with 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (1 LANCS) serving the third operational tour of his Army career.
Stephen is one of four brothers - three of whom serve in the Army. Craig, 26, and 21-year-old Jason are with the Royal Logistics Corps.
Craig is currently serving in Kandahar province in Afghanistan.
Stephen's other brother Mark, 23, lives in Leyland, as do his parents Carole and Paul.
The 27-year-old say when it comes to harvest time, even the Taliban lay down their weapons to get the crops in – especially when it is poppies used in the production of the illegal drug opium.
He has found attacks on coalition soldiers have increased since the harvest finished.
Stephen is based in Patrol Base Khaamar with 2 Platoon, Anzio Company in the northern part of Nad-e Ali district in Helmand province.
He said: "I am busier than I thought I would be. As soon as the poppy season finished, it became very busy.
"This was because the men who fight us had been preoccupied in harvesting the poppies that are used to make opium.
"Now that has been done they are back focusing on us. My patrols have been coming into contact with the insurgents on a regular basis."
1 LANCS are part of the new Combined Force in Nad-e Ali and are building on the successes of Operation MOSHTARAK, which began in February.
The aim was to extend the authority of the Afghan government in central Helmand and drive out insurgents from what had been the largest remaining safe haven for the Taliban.
Since then, the local economy has started to flourish and 1 LANCS are maintaining security and allowing development to continue.
Farmers have also been taking advantage of a seed distribution scheme, which encourages them to grow profitable crops instead of poppies.
Although this is Stephen's first deployment in Helmand, he has previously served in Northern Ireland and Iraq. Stephen is looking forward to being reunited with wife Louise and their two children, Owen, six, and three-year-old Finley.
He said: "I am missing everyone at home and can't wait to see how much the kids have grown while I have been away. With the operational bonus I will take the family away on a much-deserved holiday."
Stephen will be leaving Afghanistan in a few weeks' time to go on a senior Non-Commissioned Officers' course back in the UK.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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