PUTNAM COUNTY – Monday morning, an Indiana State Police Criminal Interdiction Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a commercial motor vehicle traveling eastbound on I‑70 at the 37-mile marker, near Cloverdale in Putnam County, for exceeding the posted speed limit.
During the interaction with the driver, 27-year-old Harmandeep Singh of Bakersfield, California, the Trooper observed multiple criminal indicators suggesting the driver was operating below industry standards.
Consent to search the tractor and trailer was requested and granted. Inside the rear of the trailer, several duffel bags and cardboard boxes were found, which contained approximately 392 pounds (178 kilograms) of suspected cocaine. The estimated street value of the seized narcotics is approximately $9 million. Singh was taken into custody and transported to the Putnam County Jail, where he is being held on a $30,000 cash bond. He has been preliminarily charged with dealing a narcotic drug, a Level 2 felony, and possession of a narcotic drug, a Level 3 felony. The Putnam County Prosecutor will determine the final charges.
Since the outset of his Administration, Governor Braun has emphasized the importance of combating crime and enhancing public safety across Indiana. Drug interdiction has been a major priority and remains a central focus in 2026. One key strategy in preventing illicit drugs from entering the Hoosier State is the continued expansion of the Indiana State Police Interdiction Unit.
This unit, operating full‑time within the Indiana State Police Drug Enforcement Section (DES), focuses on criminal interdiction efforts along Indiana’s major thoroughfares. Its mission is to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs and other contraband before they reach Indiana communities—helping safeguard lives and property throughout the state.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent until proven guilty through a fair and due legal process. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
