CLOVERDALE, INDIANA — Indiana State Police seized hundreds of pounds of suspected cocaine from a semi-truck this week after a traffic stop on Interstate 70 in Putnam County.
The stop took place Monday, April 20, 2026, on eastbound I-70 at mile marker 37 near Cloverdale. Police said an Indiana State Police Criminal Interdiction Trooper pulled over the commercial vehicle for speeding.
Traffic Stop Leads to Major Drug Seizure
During the stop, troopers identified what police described as multiple criminal indicators involving the driver, 27-year-old Harmandeep Singh of Bakersfield, California.
According to ISP, the driver gave consent for troopers to search the tractor and trailer. During that search, officers found several duffle bags and cardboard boxes in the rear of the trailer containing approximately 392 pounds, or 178 kilograms, of suspected cocaine.
Police estimated the street value of the seized narcotics at about $9 million.
Driver Booked Into Jail
Singh was taken into custody and booked into the Putnam County Jail. Police said he is being held on a $30,000 cash bond.
He was preliminarily charged with dealing a narcotic drug, a Level 2 felony, and possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 3 felony. Final charges will be determined by the Putnam County Prosecutor.
ISP Highlights Ongoing Interdiction Efforts
Indiana State Police said drug interdiction remains a major enforcement priority in 2026. The agency said its full-time Interdiction Unit, operating within the Drug Enforcement Section, focuses on criminal interdiction along major highways in an effort to disrupt the movement of illegal drugs and other contraband before they reach Indiana communities.
Police noted that all suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
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