An Indiana State Police inspection of a blue Freightliner on eastbound I-70 in Putnam County revealed about 126 kilograms (277 pounds) of cocaine hidden inside the truck’s sleeper, with an estimated street value near $3.8 million. Trooper Yan J. Dravigne initiated the stop after spotting expired IFTA decals; driver Harpreet Singh was arrested. Company records and a company officer provide conflicting accounts about the tractor’s recent repairs and trailer custody. Singh faces Level 2 and Level 3 felony charges; investigators are reviewing equipment handoffs and repair records to determine how the drugs entered the tractor.
Indiana Trooper Finds $3.8M Worth Of Cocaine Hidden In Truck Sleeper After ‘Mystery’ Memphis Pickup
Indiana State Police seized 277 pounds of cocaine during a Sept. 6 commercial vehicle inspection on Interstate 70 in Putnam County. (Photo: Indiana State Police)
An Indiana State Police commercial vehicle inspection on Interstate 70 uncovered roughly 126 kilograms (about 277 pounds) of cocaine hidden inside the sleeper compartment of a blue Freightliner — not in an attached trailer. Troopers estimated the street value of the seizure at approximately $3.8 million. The driver, identified as Harpreet Singh of Greenwood, Indiana, was arrested and later charged in Putnam County.
How The Stop Unfolded
Trooper Yan J. Dravigne of the Criminal Interdiction Unit stopped the vehicle on eastbound I-70 near mile marker 31 in Putnam County after noticing expired International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) decals. The motor carrier compliance inspection began at about 5:07 p.m. on Sept. 6, during which troopers found additional paperwork and equipment compliance issues, including an expired IFTA cab card and reported problems using an electronic logging device (ELD).
Driver’s Account And Company Response
According to the probable-cause affidavit, Singh told officers he had picked up an empty trailer in Memphis and was returning it to Indianapolis. He identified his employer as "VEIN STUDIO LLC" and provided USDOT number 4242807, a number federal records list under IN VEIN STUDIOS LLC of Decatur, Alabama.
Indiana State Police reported finding several duffel bags containing 277 pounds of cocaine during the Sept. 6 commercial vehicle inspection. (Photo: Indiana State Police)
Company Statement: Anuj Kumar, an officer with IN VEIN, told FreightWaves the tractor was owned by IN VEIN and had broken down in Oklahoma City on Aug. 23. Kumar said the company left the tractor at a repair facility and later arranged a power-only move back toward Indiana. He denies involvement in moving narcotics and says the company did not supply the trailer Singh was driving when stopped.
Search And Seizure
Because of the IFTA violation, the trooper arranged for the vehicle to be impounded and conducted an inventory search of the tractor cab. On the sleeper berth mattress officers found a blue duffel bag containing kilogram-size bundles wrapped in black duct tape. Additional packages were discovered concealed in storage around the sleeper. A presumptive field test on the white powder inside the bundles returned positive for cocaine.
Charges And Next Steps
Putnam County prosecutors filed formal charges against Singh on Sept. 8: a Level 2 felony count for dealing in cocaine and a Level 3 felony count for possession, with charging documents identifying approximately 277 pounds of cocaine in each count. Singh is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Investigators continue to examine custody records and repair-facility documentation to determine when and how the narcotics were placed inside the tractor.
Why Equipment Custody Matters
This case highlights the importance of clear documentation and custody chains for commercial equipment. Detailed handoffs and maintenance records can be crucial for investigators trying to establish who had access to a vehicle before contraband is discovered.
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