A $7 million drug bust and the arrest of two undocumented immigrants: Indiana
309 POUNDS: A routine inspection on an Indiana highway turned into a $7 million drug bust and the arrest of two undocumented immigrants, authorities said.
The stop happened around 1:30 p.m. Saturday on I-70 near the 41-mile marker in Putnam County, where a trooper pulled over a blue International semi for a standard Department of Transportation compliance check.
During the inspection, the trooper discovered more than 300 pounds of cocaine concealed in the sleeper berth of the truck. Police said the seized narcotics are valued at an estimated 7 million dollars.
Both men were arrested at the scene and later booked into the Putnam County Jail.
Authorities said Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed deportation holds on both suspects. They have been charged with dealing narcotics, a level two felony under Indiana law.
The case has once again put the spotlight on California’s commercial driver licensing system, which has faced criticism after several foreign-origin truck drivers were found to be involved in serious crimes. The issue gained national attention after repeated cases of non-citizens allegedly obtaining commercial driver’s licenses in California and later being arrested for major offenses.
The Trump administration had set a January 5 deadline for California to take action against thousands of immigrants who obtained such licenses. However, state authorities announced delays and postponed the move to cancel the licenses until March.
