RAWALPINDI, Oct 26: The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) arrested two British nationals and eight Pakistanis allegedly involved in narcotics smuggling and seized 43.25 kgs of heroin, 220.6-kg Charas and 2.4-kg opium during three separate crackdowns, the ANF official said here on Friday.

The authorities said that after receiving intelligence reports about an attempt to smuggle narcotics from NWFP to Punjab and later to abroad, a vehicle (B-4429 Kohat) coming from Peshawar was signalled to stop near Haro Bridge on GT Road.

The ANF officials told Dawn that instead of stopping, the van driver accelerated the vehicle and tried to escape towards Rawalpindi. After a brief chase the van driver was forced to stop. During search the ANF staff recovered 220.6 kgs of Charas and 2.4 kgs of opium concealed in secret cavities of the vehicles and arrested three persons.

In the second swoop, ANF staff intercepted a Toyota Hiace van coming from Peshawar and recovered 6 kgs of Charas Garda. A woman, Nargis, was also arrested in the incident.

The ANF said the Special Investigation Cell (SIC) and Regional Directorate ANF Rawalpindi carried out a joint raid in Islamabad and arrested two British nationals and 4 Pakistanis and seized 43.25-kg heroin. The estimated value of the contraband is said to be Rs15,000,000.