Two Indian truck drivers were arrested in the US state of Indiana after authorities seized a large amount of cocaine hidden inside their commercial truck, according to officials.
The arrest occurred in Putnam County, where local law enforcement officials stopped a semi-truck for inspection. During the search, officers found 309 pounds (140 kilograms) of cocaine concealed inside the vehicle. Authorities estimated the drugs’ street value at around $7 million.
The suspects have been identified as Gurpreet Singh, 25, and Jasveer Singh, 30, both Indian nationals. According to officials, the amount of cocaine seized was enough to cause fatal overdoses in over 113,000 people, based on lethal dose estimates.
According to police, the men were operating the truck using California commercial driver’s licenses. They are now facing felony charges for drug trafficking under Indiana law. Additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has issued immigration detainers against both men, ensuring they remain in custody while their legal status is being reviewed. According to authorities, the two drivers allegedly entered the United States illegally, one in 2017 and the other in 2023.
Indiana officials praised the seizure, describing it as one of the largest narcotics busts involving commercial trucking routes in the region. Law enforcement agencies said the case highlights the increasing use of freight vehicles by drug trafficking networks to move narcotics across state lines.
The arrests have also renewed debate about commercial driver licensing standards, immigration enforcement, and the use of transportation routes by organized drug networks.
Both men remain in detention while they await additional court hearings.