Police on Monday confiscated a huge cache of black pepper from near Miteri Bridge at Birgunj-Raxual border point.

A joint police team deployed from the District Police Office, Parsa, and Area Police Office, Inaruwa, confiscated 12 ton black pepper from a truck bearing Indian registration number plate UP 78 BT 3804 last night.

Acting on a tip-off, the police team checked each and every vehicle and confiscated the piper nigrum, SP Rewati Dhakal said.

“We had received information that a truck laden with black pepper is heading towards India,” SP Dhakal said, adding, “A special team was deployed at the border point to take the truck under control.”

SP Dhakal said that they have arrested truck driver Dharmendr Kumar of Kanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India for investigation.

During the interrogation, Dharmendra said that the truck had entered Nepal a day before by carrying potatoes.

Birgunj Customs Officer Spokesperson Santosh Yadav said that a probe committee has been formed to investigate how the truck crossed the customs gate. “The committee is investigating into the case,” he said

Police said that they have confiscated 18 ton black pepper while being smuggled to Indian in the last 10 months.