Two Indian nationals convicted of trafficking over 100 pounds of cocaine have been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
Gurpinder Singh, 30, and Gursharn Singh, 25, both Indian citizens, were sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Court Judge James R. Knepp. Both men pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, court records show.
In October 2023, a U.S. Border Patrol agent and Ohio State Highway Patrol officers noticed a semi-tractor trailer truck parked unusually long at a travel plaza in Wood County off I-280. A check of the U.S. Department of Transportation number on the truck revealed a prior association with drug trafficking, disqualifying the vehicle from hauling interstate commerce.
Authorities began surveillance on the truck, which was later relocated to a second travel plaza along I-280, where it remained parked for an extended period. After the truck stayed stationary for over 24 hours across two different travel plazas, law enforcement contacted the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Toledo field office for assistance. Agents then had a consensual interaction with the two men associated with the truck. During this encounter, Gurpinder Singh denied having been parked at the previous location the day before.
A Border Patrol K-9 conducted an exterior sniff of the vehicle, alerting officers to narcotics on the passenger side. A probable cause search revealed several duffel bags containing kilogram-sized packages of suspected cocaine. Two packages tested positive for cocaine, while the remaining packages were sent to the DEA crime lab. Lab results confirmed a total of 49.9 kilograms of powder cocaine.
Federal agents later discovered that the defendants lacked legal status in the United States. Upon completing their prison sentences, both will be subject to removal from the country.
The case was investigated by the DEA Toledo field office, in cooperation with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the U.S. Border Patrol Sandusky Bay Station.
