Three Drug Enforcement Administration officials were killed when their helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan Monday, USA Today reported.
The DEA agents died with ten soldiers and one civilian in a firefight that broke out as the American soldiers were leaving a raid on poppy fields in the Western part of Afghanistan, The Times of London reported. In addition to the 10 deaths, 14 Afghan service members, 11 U.S. service members and one U.S. civilian were injured in the crash, USA Today reported.
Attorney General Eric Holder released a statement Monday about the deaths of the DEA agents. “While the circumstances of this crash are still being investigated, I want to express my deepest condolences to the families of these heroic agents,” Holder said.
According to the Times of London, the helicopter was shot down among heavy fire during an extraction mission to retrieve soldiers engaged in a midnight raid on the compound of a prominent Afghan drug suggler.
The DEA has been working in Afghanistan to combat the country’s booming opium trade, which funds the fundamentalist Taliban. In 2007, its Special Operations Division was given an almost $9 million boost funding boost to fight the opium trade in the country’s southern and western provinces, ABC News reported.
Afghanistan is the source of 90 percent of the world’s heroin, and much of the farms producing the poppies needed for heroin production are believed to be under control of the Taliban or Al Qaeda, ABC News reported.
The opium trade in Afghanistan is currently based in five provinces in the south, bordering Pakistan, and two provinces in the west, bordering Iran.
The DEA declined to comment on the specifics of the crash.
In addition to the helicopter crash that killed the DEA agents, two American helicopters collided on Monday in southern Afghanistan, killing four. Monday was the deadliest day for American troops in Afghanistan in four years, USA Today said.
The New York Times reported that the U.S. military was “98 percent sure that insurgent activity was not involved.”
UPDATE: The names of the DEA agents were released early Tuesday morning. Tickle the Wire posted a DEA news release identifying the agents killed:
“Special Agent Forrest N. Leamon. SA Leamon became a Special Agent in 2002. He served at the Washington Field Division and in the El Paso Field Division until 2007, when he joined the FAST team in Afghanistan. He lived in Woodbridge, VA and was 37 years old. He is survived by his wife and their unborn child.”
“Special Agent Chad L. Michael. SA Michael graduated from basic training in March 2004. He began his career with DEA in the Miami Field Division, and left there to join the FAST team in Afghanistan in August of this year. He lived in Quantico, VA and was 30 years old.”
“Special Agent Michael E. Weston. SA Weston has been a Special Agent with DEA since 2003. He was assigned to the Richmond, Virginia District Office until joining the Kabul Country Office in August of this year. He lived in Washington, DC and was 37 years old. He is survived by his wife.”
In a statement posted on the DEA Web site, Acting Administrator Michele Leonhart said the DEA’s “extremely tight family” was devastated by the loss of the agents. “No expressions of grief can adequately convey the depth of the collective sorrow that we feel for their loved ones,” Leonhart said.
My condolences go out to the families…. its a shame that not only are we there fighting for freedom, where there fighting a drug war to help save lives… I’m disgusted!
Fighting for who’s freedom? And how does fighting a drug war save lives? We have been fighting “The War on Drugs” in this country for over 50 years and yet I can go into any high school or any corner in America and purchase narcotics. FYI, latest available statistics show that the DEA only seized less than 3% of illegal drugs being imported into the U.S.in 07 or 08. And were going to stop narco trafficing in Afghanistan? I doubt it.
Gordon you are a know nothing dick. These are real people. Save your idealism for community issues.
I sure hope the CIA is NOT feeding “targeting data” to the Taliban to scare, intimidate and drive the DEA away in order to protect the CIA’s “entrepreneurial” operational funding.
There are three areas of global trade with the highest profit margins and they are 1) Oil 2) Guns & Armaments and 3) Illegal Drugs and all three may be controlled by the same entities. Watch the movie “Lord of War” with Nicholas Cage.
My fellow Americans, to strike back, we must:
Jail all the sons-of-bitches involved in kick-back bribery
1) Buy and make only electric cars (so the arabs can go back to
throwing rocks at each other)
2) Begin a system of state banks like Nort Dakota
3) REPEAL and STRIKE down the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999
restoring limitations on American banks
4) STOP ALL Congressional and Senatorial Migration into Washington
Lobbyist Firms, PERMANENTLY. WE can make this a CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF FEDERAL OFFICE.
5) Recall the 50 CIA agents who resigned in unity under George W.
Bush around 2003/2004 timeframe and call them into a “Focus
Group” to discuss why they resigned “all at once” and take
action on the findings that result in Federal Indictments.
6) Pass a Constitutional Amendment BANNING PRIVATE SECTOR
CORPORATE BAILOUTS in peacetime.
7) Call for Congressional Inquiries into Private Sector Contracts
in Iraq and trace the money back into the Republiican
National Committee or RNC.
corruption feeding the taxpayer money back into the RNC.
9) Send a copy of US Code Title 18 Chapter 115 Subparagraphs 2281, 2282, 2284 and 2285 of which “Treason” and “Conspiracy to Commit Treason” are covered in a package marked from “U.S. Department of Justice.” Address the package specifically to Fox News, Rupert Murdoch, Glenn Beck, O’Reilly, O’Hannity, Limbaugh, Ingraham and that CORPORATE-PIN CUSHION-PIECE OF ASS – Ann Coulter.
10) Ask Ann Coulter and Kathryn Harris to set up a tent in the middle east to offer free sex to soldiers to lower incidences of PTSD, wait – cancel that, just 1 through 9.
Chad Michael was a true hero. He lived and died doing what he loved. Chad you will be greatly missed buddy. We all love you.
Michael was a proud Marine,an outstanding agent,and a wonderful guy. He died doing what he loved doing, narcotics ivestigations and defending this country. My life is better having had him in mine, he will be missed.
Michael Weston was a proud Marine,an outstanding agent,and a wonderful guy. He died doing what he loved doing, narcotics ivestigations and defending this country. My life is better having had him in mine, he will be missed.
Forrest, we lost a great friend and a great man yesterday! You will be forever in our hearts!!! We will look after Ana and your future child you can be sure!!
Three fewer DEA goons is no loss to anyone. None.
And did those morons **really** think they were accomplishing anything, going to a war zone halfway across the world, to “control” maybe the only viable revenue source available to the locals? If they died of anything, it was their own stupidity and hubris.
Good riddance.
bemused and jacque
who named you,named you right but stopped short.
a little ….a lot of professional service is in order.
i have nothing but pity for the two of you and who/whatever is responsible for your present state of mind
marine grunt
Mike. You will be missed. I am proud to have served with you. God bless and Semper Fi
I cant agree more. I served under Major Weston in 2006 in Iraq. He was the greatest Marine officer I’ve served with. His country as a whole will miss him.
you’re a piece of garbage for saying that. you coward
I agree with you Amanda, Mike was a very dedicated and proud Marine and loved his work w/ the DEA. He was a wonderful guy and we will miss him tremendously. Thank you for posting your kind thoughts.
Mike’s sister,
Megan
I served under Michael Weston in Iraq 2005, while he was our XO as a captain. He was the greatest officer I have ever known and would serve under him under any conditions. I am a local police officer in Roanoke VA and love sharing stories of police work during our deployment. I spoke with Weston often and one day wanted to work with him in the DEA. However now we are suffering a tragic loss and I will not be able to accomplish that wish now but he gave his life doing what he love best. I hope to hear soon when and where the funeral arrangements are because at least 10 Marines from Roanoke are going anywhere in the country to honor such a great man. I have never known a officer to be more willing and fight to get up on the front lines to exchange rounds with the enlisted men, he never sat back a watched.
And to all of you saying that no dent can be made in the war on drugs saving one life in just one day because of a drug arrest is a success to me. If it was a friend of yours that tried heroin once and died immediately you would wish that a drug arrest would of saved them.
I also served under Michael Weston in Iraq in 2005. I agree with James that he was the most outstanding officer and Marine I have ever known. There’s nobody else on this planet that I would have rather had next to me returning rounds downrange. He was the true embodiment of a leader and Marine. He is greatly missed.
wow, anonymous, way to address his argument! i can see why you’re such a hit at tea parties…
I did not know Michael Weston but as a fellow Marine Officer and DEA agent I mourn his loss as I do that of the other soldiers, Marines, and Agents that died that day. I knew and worked with Forrest as an Agent and feel deep sympathy for his new wife and unborn child. Semper Fi!
It’s too bad that people are dying, but the DEA needs to stop messing around in other countries, and they need to severely cut back their useless and harmful operations in the US too. Yeah, I know they’re only doing what the wise and wonderful US Congress tells them to do, they have little control over the law itself, but DEA agents are willing enablers of a sick and perverted system. DEA agents are dying for nothing, and when the laws are changed they will look back and see that this is so.
They were there fighting the drug war that FINANCES the Talliban.
Chad Michael we will all miss you bro! He died doing what he Loved to do, I remember saying to him Aug 10 two weeks before he left to Afghanistan I hope to see you when you get back in 3 years take care and be careful…He was a good friend from the Gym…God Bless You..RIP…You’ll be missed….Buddy..
Sunrise, Florida
Thank you Megan. Your brother was truly an amazing man. So humble and unassuming. I have never met anyone who lived the life they wanted to live. Many of us talk about what we would like to do, what we could do. Michael lived his life he didn’t just talk about it. I dont think he ever realized how many people he touched in such a positive why. Many have a loss that goes deep to their soul right now. I am not sure i will ever be able to wrap my head around him no long being here. I am sorry for you and your family. I know how fondly he talked about all of you and how much he loved you. Take care
Thank you Megan. Your brother was truly an amazing man. So humble and unassuming. I have never met anyone who lived the life they wanted to live. Many of us talk about what we would like to do, what we could do. Michael lived his life he didn’t just talk about it. I dont think he ever realized how many people he touched in such a positive why. Many have a loss that goes deep to their soul right now. I am not sure i will ever be able to wrap my head around him no long being here. I am sorry for you and your family. I know how fondly he talked about all of you and how much he loved all of you. Take care
this is not the forum for you opinions about the government or this system this is a forum to honor they dead weather you believe in why they were there. We would not have the freedoms we enjoy in the country if it were not for men like these agents. Having served 3 tours in Iraq Special Agent Weston did not feel he was finished serving our Country. He worked tirelessly to remove drugs and drug dealers off the streets of Richmond and we are a better place because of his work. Are there still dealers? Yes so should he have not put himself in harms way here. He went on the streets everyday and did what he believed in, protecting this country and making this world a better place. 90% of the worlds heroin is originated in Afghanistan. The DEA goes into other countries to assist the local authorities to combat their drug issues, which ultimately minimizes the drugs that hit the streets of this country. DEA has done this with Cocaine in the Caribbean and South America and now they are working on combating the heroin trade in Afghanistan. How dare anyone judge these men at this time, it is a dishonor to both the Agents and their families. Their families need our support not ridicule. Think about the last time you fought for the safety of others without regard to your own. Yes Agent Weston was well aware of the dangers but he believed in the mission. He was taken away too soon because his impact would have been enormous. I am sorry to anyone that feels i am only encouraging the banter but I know how strongly Michael Weston believed in what he was doing and that was part of why he is such a great man.
I knew Mike Weston when we were in law school together. He was brilliant, hilariously funny, and he saw public service as the highest calling. This is a terrible loss.
the following is opium production since the US backed invasion in 2001 and installation of the corrupt puppet Hamid Karzai:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Afghanistan_opium_poppy_cultivation_1994-2007b.PNG
do you notice that opium production has progressively INCREASED since the 2001 fall of the Taliban and installation of our puppet Karzai who “won” via fradulent election???
so a little suggestion to the DEA: STOP WASTING OUR TAXPAYER $$$$ AND PLEASE GET THE HELL OUT OF OTHER PEOPLES’ COUNTRIES!!!! you are losing the war on drugs abroad and you are losing the war on drugs at home!!!!!!
There will always be naysayers that downplay the importance or the contribution of people like the heroes who gave/give their lives in defense of their country. Regardless of what these naysayers might say, we all know that these people Have and ARE making a huge difference and are continuing to keep this country safe for us and our children. As a former Marine and disabled veteran I want to offer my personal condolences to the families of those who gave their lives for our country. Their loss was not in vain, and because of their efforts we will win the war on drugs and this country WILL remain safe from the terrorists of the world who would love nothing better than to bring America to her knees. May GOD bless and protect each and every one of you, and may that little unborn baby know that their daddy was a hero and a great American.
GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
A pre-arranged funeral should never include the date of death without considering a good number of issues over a number of weeks or months. But no one should be allowed to pre arranged another persons date of death years or decades in advance. Such actions must be seen as criminal as well as prosecutable! The only known exception would be a court appointed death penalty upheld by a jury or judge. RIGHT?
NORTHERN CAMBRIA, PA. 15714-1230
Gordon & Taochiapet,
The only thing that makes me sadder than hearing that we have lost some of our most courageous men who have dedicated their lives to make our world a better place is to be reminded that there are still worthless pieces of crap like the two of you. Do us all a favor and suffocate yourselves so that you can save a little bit of oxygen for the rest of us and actually do one good thing during your lives.
Bemused,
Keep an eye out over your shoulder because I’m coming to hunt you down. Whether it takes a week or a month or a year, the last thing you are going to hear in your life is a simple quiet whisper saying “good riddance”…
Gordon dude….read the thing first. you must understand….if we get rid of the opium in Afghanistan which is infact the Taliban and Al-Qaeda’s biggest income of money…then they won’t have the money to buy weapons and recruit people to join them. Leading to FEWER PEOPLE DIEING!