Two men of Indian origin, Jasveer Singh and Gurpreet Singh, have been taken into custody in the United States after law enforcement discovered a massive haul of 309 pounds of cocaine concealed within their commercial truck. Both individuals asserted to the police that they were completely unaware of the illicit contents they were transporting.
The Traffic Stop and Questioning
Jasveer Singh, who was behind the wheel of the semi-truck, informed the officer who pulled him over that he worked as a commercial driver for Sidhu Trucking Inc. He provided a detailed account of his journey, stating he had hitched a ride from California to Joplin, Missouri, in a different company vehicle specifically to collect the tractor-trailer he was later found driving.
According to his statement, the trucking company instructed him to take the supposedly empty trailer to an Indian restaurant located near Exit 151 close to Richmond. He was told to eat at the restaurant and await further instructions regarding a freight load. Jasveer also noted that the vehicle was not equipped with a mandatory Electronic Logging Device (ELD), and he had not maintained a paper logbook for the trip.
Gurpreet Singh, the passenger, corroborated parts of the story. He told authorities he too had hitched a ride from California to Joplin separately and then joined Jasveer. He received identical directions to proceed to the same Indian restaurant. Gurpreet clarified that he was not a formal employee of the trucking company and, consequently, had not filled out any logbook.
The Discovery in the Sleeper Berth
While the police officer was conversing with the two men, his attention was drawn to the sleeper compartment of the truck. There, he spotted numerous cardboard boxes hidden under a blanket. Upon closer inspection, a black plastic bag was visible, containing a kilogram-sized package partially wrapped in brown duct tape and cellophane. This discovery immediately confirmed the officer's suspicions of illegal activity.
Consent and the Search Warrant
When presented with a search warrant, Jasveer Singh initially agreed to the search of the vehicle. However, after making a phone call to the trucking company, he abruptly withdrew his consent. Despite this reversal, the police proceeded with the search based on the warrant, leading to the full uncovering of the 309-pound cocaine stash.
Both individuals held valid California commercial driver's licenses at the time of the arrest. The case highlights the severe legal risks associated with transporting unknown cargo and the strict enforcement of drug laws on US highways. The investigation into the broader network behind this significant drug shipment is likely ongoing.
