ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: Two vehicles owned by the American embassy with fake registration plates and without any documents were impounded on Thursday night, police said.

The drivers claimed that two Toyota Hiaces owned by the American embassy were being taken to Peshawar to convert them into ambulances. The vehicles carrying handwritten number plates – IDN-2501 and IDN-2932 – were intercepted at the Tarnol checkpoint on Kashmir Highway. On the left side of the vehicles’ front screens, ‘American Embassy 3300’ was also written along with dispatch number.

The vehicles were taken to the Tarnol police station, as the drivers, who were locals, were released.

A caller introducing himself as employee of Toyota dealer asked the police to hand over the vehicles. But he was told to produce documents and get the vehicles from the court.

US embassy spokesperson Courteny Beale confirmed that the vehicles were owned by US embassy in Islamabad, adding they arrived from America recently. She said the vehicles needing repair were given to a Toyota dealer in I-9, who was taking them to Peshawar.

The vehicles were driven by the drivers of the dealer and they put fake registration number plates on them, she added.

Ms Beale said the embassy was in contact with the dealer and the government to get the vehicles back.