US: Indian nationals detained in a case involving cocaine trafficking
US: According to the US Department of Homeland Security, investigators in Indiana found almost 300 pounds of cocaine concealed inside a semi-truck, leading to the arrest of two Indian citizens.
Gurpreet Singh, 25, and Jasveer Singh, 30, were the subjects of arrest detainers filed on January 4 by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Local officials in Putnam County, Indiana, detained the two guys on suspicion of trafficking in drugs.
In the sleeper berth of the semi-truck the guys were driving, law authorities discovered 309 pounds of cocaine. According to DHS, the narcotics were found during a regular truck check, and the amount found was sufficient to kill approximately 113,000 people.
DHS claims that the state of California granted commercial driver’s licenses to both Gurpreet Singh and Jasveer Singh. They were able to operate commercial cars over state boundaries thanks to their permits.
After local criminal processes are over, ICE said it filed detainers to guarantee the two men stay in jail and are turned over to federal immigration officials.
“These two criminal illegal aliens were arrested for trafficking a staggering 300 pounds of cocaine inside a semi-truck after the state of California granted them commercial driver’s licenses due to Gavin Newsom’s careless policies,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.
She said that in December, Gavin Newsom and his colleagues sanctuary Democrats even disregarded an arrest detainer on one of these criminal illegal immigrants. “Sanctuary policies endanger American lives.”
Gurpreet Singh entered the country unlawfully on March 11, 2023, close to Lukeville, Arizona, according to DHS. The agency also said that he was allowed entry into the nation under the Biden administration.
According to DHS, Jasveer Singh entered the country unlawfully on March 21, 2017, close to Otay Mesa, California. He was taken into custody for receiving stolen goods in San Bernardino, California, on December 5, 2025. At that point, ICE filed an arrest detainer.
DHS said the detainer was not honored because of California’s sanctuary policies. After being freed from jail, Jasveer Singh reintegrated into society.
The department said the Indiana seizure highlights the use of commercial trucking routes by drug trafficking networks. Authorities have not released details about the intended destination of the cocaine or whether other suspects are involved.
ICE detainers are requests to local law enforcement agencies. They ask that ICE be notified before a person is released from custody so federal officers can take them into immigration custody.