Illinois police bust Canadian truck driver hauling cocaine
Two Canadians were arrested in Illinois and charged with three felonies when their truck was found to have more than 1,100 pounds of cocaine in the trailer.
The Illinois State Police (ISP) Blackhawk Area Task Force (BATF) arrested 27- year-old Vanshpreet Singh and 36-year-old Manpreet Singh, both from Ontario, Canada. They were charged with Possession of Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine, and Cocaine Trafficking — all three of which are Class X felonies in Illinois, carrying a sentence of 6-30 years in prison.
On Nov. 29 at approximately 2:10 p.m., an ISP trooper conducted an inspection on a Volvo tractor-trailer combination on Interstate 80 eastbound in Henry County. During the inspection, the trooper observed numerous indicators of criminal activity.
A subsequent search revealed suspected cocaine. The total approximate weight of the cocaine located was 1,146 pounds and has an approximate street value of more than $40 million dollars.
“ISP’s coordinated focus on trafficking is helping keep dangerous drugs out of our communities,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “From commercial motor vehicle inspections to daily patrol, to targeted anti-violence and trafficking details, ISP is making communities safer.”
Vanshpreet Singh and Manpreet Signh were taken into custody and transported to the Henry County Jail pending a pre-trial release hearing. ISP notified Homeland Security Investigations, which responded and is providing assistance.