MANAMA - BRITISH and other warships operating in the Gulf have seized 30 tonnes of narcotics being smuggled from Afghanistan as part of suspected Taliban-financing operations, the operation's headquarters said on Tuesday.

'Seizures by coalition naval forces over the past five months can now be revealed and total 30 tonnes, over 70 percent of which (23 tons) was down to (British) Royal Navy interceptions,' said a statement from the Combined Maritime Forces headquarters in Bahrain.

'Sailors and Royal Marines from the ships discovered hidden drugs in vessels along the so-called Hash Highway', and often operated in the most unpleasant conditions. The narcotics they seized included hashish, opiates, cocaine and amphetamines,' the statement added.

'The scourge of illegal drugs are one of the gravest threats to the long term security of Afghanistan, and a vital source of funding for the Taliban warlords who seek violence against Afghan, coalition and NATO forces,' said the commander of British naval forces in the region, Commodore Keith Winstanley.

'Our mission in Afghanistan is one of absolute importance, and by seizing these drugs we have dealt a significant blow to the illegal trade. News of these successes has been kept quiet for operational reasons, but I am delighted that the tremendous efforts can now be recognized.;

Commodore Winstanley said that Pakistani, French and Canadian forces had also been involved in the interdiction operations. -- AFP