HETAUDA: Police seized a huge cache of marijuana from Barghumati Kalitar of Bhaise-2 along the Tribhuvan Highway in Makwanpaur in the wee hours of Friday.

According to the District Police Office, Makwanpur, a police team under the command of Sub-Inspector Rambabu Singh of Bhaise Police Office seized a truck (Na 4 Kha 1045) laden with 223 kg marijuana at around 1 am today.

DSP Sisu Sharma of the DPO said that the truck driver fled the scene upon seeing the police team.

Sharma further informed that they have recovered the driving license of Krishna Bahadur Moktan of Kalikatar-8 from the truck.

Police have suspected that Moktan himself was involved in smuggling the contraband drug as there was no one in the truck except him.

Police claimed that the drug was collected from Thahanagar Municipality of Makawanpur and was about to smuggle to India.

Meanwhile, police have arrested five Indian nationals with 9.5kg marijuana from the district.

The suspects have been identified Dilip Giri (25), Rakesh Giri (24), Rajiv Giri (25), Rameshwor Giri (40) and Binod Tiwari (60) of Japhapur, Khawardarphagram-5 in Shibahar Thana of Shibahar district in India.

Police said that the drug was confiscated from a passenger bus (Na 4 Kha 1045) bound to Pathalaiya from Hetauda.