According to the Police, Jasveer Singh was originally going to a restaurant in Richmond, Indiana to pick up a load of products that were unknown to him.
Two truck drivers of Indian descent have been apprehended in California, US, following the confiscation of 309 pounds of cocaine worth around $7 million, concealed within their semi-truck.
Gurpreet Singh, 25, and Jasveer Singh, 30, the defendants, were apprehended on January 3.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has paused the deportation of both men, with federal officials indicating that the quantity of cocaine confiscated could be lethal for over 113,000 Americans.
The arrest occurs during the continuing legal and political struggle regarding the granting and cancellation of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for immigrant truckers, especially Sikhs, in California.
According to the Police, Jasveer Singh was originally going to a restaurant in Richmond, Indiana to pick up a load of products that were unknown to him. The State Police became suspicious after officers saw multiple cardboard boxes covered with a blanket in Singh’s truck.
The Police K-9 unit found the boxes, which contained cocaine, and the truck was subsequently seized and the cocaine taken into evidence.
The State Police statement is thorough, listing the arrests of both Singh and Singh as consistent with findings from DHS for their entry into the United States and their immigrant statuses. Both Singh and Singh were charged with felony drug trafficking (Level 2).
Governor Mike Braun expressed appreciation for the work done by State Police in this case and reiterated that Indiana has no tolerance for drug trafficking (zero tolerance policy).
These arrests come at a time when truck driver licensing and drug testing practices in the United States are being put under increased scrutiny (increased scrutiny).
