Highlights:
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Two Indian nationals were arrested in Indiana for smuggling more than 300 pounds of cocaine.
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Both suspects were living illegally in the United States and held California-issued commercial driver’s licenses.
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ICE has lodged arrest detainers to prevent their release from custody.
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One suspect had previously been arrested in California but released despite an ICE detainer.
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US officials cited sanctuary policies as a factor enabling serious drug smuggling activity.
Two Indian nationals living illegally in the United States have been arrested by federal authorities for smuggling more than 300 pounds of cocaine concealed inside a semi-truck, according to US officials. The arrests, made in Indiana earlier this month, have drawn renewed scrutiny of immigration enforcement gaps, state licensing practices, and sanctuary policies.
The suspects, identified as Gurpreet Singh, 25, and Jasveer Singh, 30, were taken into custody by local law enforcement in Putnam County, Indiana, on January 4. Authorities said the arrests followed the discovery of a large quantity of cocaine hidden inside the commercial truck the two men were operating. Both men now face charges related to narcotics trafficking, while federal agencies continue to investigate the case.
Smuggling Operation Involving Commercial Truck
Federal officials said the case involves a significant drug smuggling operation using a semi-truck capable of transporting cargo across state lines. According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), more than 300 pounds of cocaine were recovered during the arrest.
DHS highlighted the scale of the seizure by pointing to the lethal nature of the drug. “That amount is enough to kill more than 113,000 Americans,” the department said in a statement, noting that a lethal dose of cocaine can be as little as 1.2 grams.
The use of a commercial freight vehicle raised concerns among federal authorities, particularly given that both suspects were able to legally operate such a vehicle despite being in the country without authorization.
Smuggling Suspects Held Despite Illegal Immigration Status
DHS confirmed that both Gurpreet Singh and Jasveer Singh had entered the United States illegally and were living in the country without legal status at the time of their arrest. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged arrest detainers against both men to ensure they remain in custody and are not released back into the community.
ICE detainers are requests asking local law enforcement agencies to hold individuals for transfer to federal immigration authorities. DHS officials said the detainers were placed immediately following the Indiana arrests.
Smuggling Case Raises Licensing Concerns
Despite their illegal immigration status, both men were issued commercial driver’s licenses by the state of California. These licenses allowed them to operate large freight vehicles across state lines, a factor that federal officials said directly enabled the cocaine smuggling operation.
DHS criticized the circumstances that allowed the suspects to obtain commercial licenses, arguing that the system failed to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing sensitive transportation roles.
Smuggling Timeline and Immigration History
According to DHS, Gurpreet Singh illegally entered the United States on March 11, 2023, near Lukeville, Arizona. Authorities said he was released into the country under policies in effect during the Biden administration. DHS stated that Singh later admitted to law enforcement that he was an Indian citizen and was in the US illegally.
Jasveer Singh entered the United States earlier, on March 21, 2017, near Otay Mesa, California. DHS disclosed that he had a prior encounter with law enforcement in December last year.
On December 5, Jasveer Singh was arrested in San Bernardino, California, on charges of receiving stolen property. ICE placed an arrest detainer at that time, requesting that local authorities hold him for federal immigration enforcement. The detainer was not honored, and Singh was released.
Federal officials said that release allowed him to remain at large until the Indiana arrest connected to the cocaine smuggling case.
Smuggling and Sanctuary Policy Criticism
DHS sharply criticized California’s sanctuary policies, arguing that they contributed directly to the failure to hold one of the suspects in custody and to the broader smuggling operation.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said state-level decisions had serious public safety consequences.
“Thanks to Governor Newsom’s reckless policies, these two criminal illegal aliens were granted commercial driver’s licenses by the state of California and were arrested for trafficking a staggering 300 pounds of cocaine inside a semi-truck,” McLaughlin said.
She also pointed to the December release of Jasveer Singh despite an ICE detainer. “Sanctuary policies put American lives at risk,” McLaughlin said, adding that ICE detainers are designed to prevent dangerous individuals from returning to US communities.
Ongoing Smuggling Investigation
Federal authorities said the investigation into the cocaine smuggling operation remains ongoing. Additional charges could be filed as investigators examine whether other individuals or networks were involved in transporting the drugs.
Officials have not disclosed the intended destination of the cocaine or how long the alleged smuggling activity may have been taking place. DHS said it would continue coordinating with federal, state, and local agencies as the case develops.
The arrests underscore ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement efforts and state-level policies, particularly in cases involving large-scale drug smuggling and public safety risks.
