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http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20043&Itemid=128

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080603-01
June 3, 2008

Iraqi source leads Soldiers to massive cache west of Samarra

Multi-National Division – North PAO

TIKRIT, Iraq – An Iraqi source-driven search in the al-Jazeera Desert west of the city of Samarra led Soldiers to an underground storage room containing thousands of pounds of weapons and munitions, June 2.

Earlier in the day, the Soldiers received information from local Iraqi Security Forces of a large quantity of weapons and munitions located within a 40-ft. well in the desert near the city.

The large room was revealed after numerous attempts to locate the cache. After digging six feet into the ground, Soldiers noticed a large crevasse leading into the room’s entrance.

“What is unique about this cache was the large amount of serviceable munitions,” said Capt. Chris Barlow, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment. “Most of our cache finds turn up old, rusted weapons and munitions, but 90-95 percent of this cache consisted of readily usable and serviceable items.”

According to Barlow, commander of Coalition Soldiers responsible for the area, this cache and many others like it was located solely because of information flow that is occurring as a result of the increased security in Samarra.

“The security inside the population centers here has driven the people here to offer up a wealth of intelligence,” he said. “You have to have the help from the local citizens to be able to locate a cache in an area as desolate as this.”

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