Cocaine Seizure Raises Questions in US Trucking Sector

Two California-based truck drivers of Indian origin were arrested in the United States earlier this month after authorities uncovered a large cache of cocaine concealed inside their vehicle, an incident that has drawn attention amid a broader national debate over licensing and regulation in the trucking industry.

Law enforcement officials said the men were taken into custody after a traffic stop led to the discovery of approximately 309 pounds of cocaine hidden in a semi-truck. The seized narcotics were estimated to have a street value of about $7 million, or roughly ₹63 crore. Both drivers were arrested on January 3 and are currently being held in the Putnam County Jail, with bond set at $1 million each.

The suspects, identified as Gurpreet Singh, 25, and Jasveer Singh, 30, are holders of California-issued commercial driver’s licences. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged detainers against both men, citing questions surrounding their immigration status.

According to police accounts, officers became suspicious after speaking with Jasveer Singh, who reportedly told them he was driving an empty tractor-trailer to a restaurant in Richmond to await a new assignment. During a routine inspection of the truck, officers noticed several cardboard boxes covered by a blanket in the sleeper area of the cab. A trained narcotics-detection dog later alerted authorities to the presence of drugs, prompting a more thorough search that revealed the cocaine.

Investigators said the case aligns with existing records from the Department of Homeland Security concerning the men’s entry into the US and their legal standing. Both face preliminary charges related to narcotics trafficking, classified as a Level 2 felony under state law. Indiana Governor Mike Braun commended state police for the seizure, describing it as evidence of Indiana’s strict stance against drug trafficking.

The arrests come at a time when the trucking industry, particularly programmes that train and license drivers, is under heightened federal scrutiny. A recent review by the US Transportation Department found that a significant number of truck driving schools may not be meeting regulatory standards. According to an Associated Press report, nearly 44 per cent of the country’s roughly 16,000 truck driving programmes could face closure as a result.

In California, the case has also intersected with a contentious legal and political dispute over the issuance of commercial driver’s licences to immigrant truckers, many of whom are Sikh. State officials recently notified about 17,000 drivers that their licences would be revoked because the expiration dates extended beyond the period during which the drivers were legally authorised to remain in the US.

Immigrant truckers have challenged the move in court, arguing that the revocations violate labour protections and unfairly target foreign-born drivers. Advocacy organisations, including Sikh groups and legal aid organisations, have filed a class-action lawsuit against the California Department of Motor Vehicles on behalf of those affected.

The dispute has been intensified by renewed federal pressure on states that issue licences to immigrants. The US government has warned that funding could be withheld from several states, including California, if they continue such practices. At the same time, advocacy groups say Sikh truckers have faced increased scrutiny, harassment and discrimination, particularly following recent fatal trucking accidents in Florida and California involving Sikh drivers.

As legal challenges proceed and federal reviews continue, the case involving the two California drivers has added a new and controversial dimension to an already charged debate—one that blends concerns over public safety, immigration policy and the future of the US trucking workforce.