Police have arrested seven persons on the charge of driving under the influence of drugs from Bhaktapur on Saturday.

They were arrested during a joint check carried out by Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, Narcotics Control Bureau, and Jagati Police Post with technical assistance from a team from Nepal Police Hospital.

Police said five motorcyclists, a scooter rider and a cabbie were nabbed.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajendra Prasad Bhatta, who is also the spokesperson of the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, all the arrestees have been kept under custody at the Jagati Police Circle for necessary investigation and action.

Traffic police said they have stepped up checks to book drivers under the influence of narcotics as their numbers have been increasing recently.

The traffic police along with the technical team have been using Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) kits since July 25 to check intoxicated drivers.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs not only causes road accidents but also creates negative impacts on health, said Bhatta, requesting everyone to drive responsibly.