Police in Sunsari district seized an Indian-registered ambulance carrying 180 kilograms of marijuana on Saturday night, raising concerns over traffickers adopting new smuggling tactics.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team from the Area Police Office Pakali and the proposed Ramdhuni unit set up roadblocks in the Pidari area in ward 6 of Ramdhuni Municipality and intercepted the ambulance around 10pm.

During the search, six sacks—each containing 30kg of marijuana packed in white bags and black plastic—were found inside the vehicle.

The driver, 25-year-old Sriraj Kumar Sah from ward 4 of Barahakshetra Municipality, Sunsari, was taken into custody, along with the vehicle and the contraband. All are being held at the Pakali police office for further investigation, said Superintendent of Police Suman Kumar Timilsina, chief of Sunsari District Police Office.

Previously, smugglers have used Nepal-registered ambulances, fake government number plates, and even fuel tankers to smuggle marijuana.