ISP: 309 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $7 million seized during I-70 truck inspection in Putnam County

Image provided by Indiana State Police

PUTNAM COUNTY, Ind. — January 4, 2025

Indiana State Police say troopers found 309 pounds of suspected cocaine during a routine Department of Transportation compliance inspection of a semi tractor-trailer Saturday afternoon on Interstate 70 in Putnam County.

According to a news release from the Indiana State Police Putnamville District, a trooper stopped a blue International semi tractor-trailer around 1:30 p.m. Jan. 3 near the 41 mile marker on eastbound I-70 for a compliance inspection. Police said “criminal indicators” were observed during conversations with the driver, and an ISP K-9 later gave a positive alert, leading to a probable-cause search of the truck.

During the search, the trooper located the suspected cocaine in the sleeper berth, police said.

Two occupants were taken into custody without incident and transported to the Putnam County Jail. Both were charged with dealing in narcotics, a Level 2 felony, police said. Indiana State Police also said ICE deportation holds were placed on each of them.

Police identified those arrested as Gurpreet Singh, 25, of Fresno, California, and Jasveer Singh, 30, of Santa Clara, California.

The semi was traveling from Joplin, Missouri, to Richmond, Indiana, police said.

In the release, Indiana State Police Superintendent Anthony Scott cited the agency’s full-time interdiction patrols as a tool aimed at keeping illegal drugs off Indiana roadways and out of communities. State police said the seizure was made by a full-time interdiction trooper assigned to the ISP Drug Enforcement Section.

The street value of the drugs was estimated at $7 million, police said.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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