Two Ontario residents are facing serious charges after Illinois State Police seized approximately 540 kilograms (1,146 pounds) of suspected cocaine, valued at over $40 million, from a tractor-trailer on Interstate 80.
Incident Details
The arrests occurred on the afternoon of November 29 during a routine commercial vehicle inspection conducted by an Illinois State Police trooper in Henry County.
- The trooper reportedly observed several indicators of criminal activity during the inspection of a Volvo tractor-trailer.
- A subsequent search revealed the large quantity of cocaine.
The Accused
The suspects, identified as:
- Vanshpreet Singh, 27
- Manpreet Singh, 36
Both are residents of Ontario and now face multiple charges, including:
- Possession of cocaine
- Possession with intent to deliver cocaine
- Cocaine trafficking
Ongoing Investigation
Homeland Security Investigations has joined the case to assist Illinois State Police in their inquiry into the large-scale drug trafficking operation.
This significant drug seizure underscores the collaboration between state law enforcement and federal agencies in tackling cross-border narcotics trafficking.