The Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, now in Iraq, recently captured an insurgent who told the unit he was a bomb-maker, the 31st MEU has announced in a news release.

Several large caches of weapons, ammunition and documents were seized from the insurgent’s home after he was captured during a small raid in Karabilah, the release stated, adding that the caches contained enough materials to produce more than 30 improvised explosive devices.

The insurgent told the troops he had retrieved all of the ordnance from an old Iraqi army ammunition supply point in Sa’dah, loading his vehicle full of ordnance before returning home, where he buried the munitions in several locations throughout his property.

The man claimed that he began building IEDs during summer 2003, the release stated, and since then, has detonated several of the devices against Multi-National Force convoys.

The weapons were destroyed, the 31st MEU stated.

The unit’s current mission, the release stated, is to enhance security and stability in western Iraq and the Anbar province in support of the upcoming Iraqi elections.

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