A California truck driver is in ICE custody after authorities say he was caught hauling nearly $3 million worth of stolen tungsten oxide powder. Deepak Kumar, a 31-year-old Fresno resident originally from India, was arrested on June 27 in Greenfield, Indiana, following a traffic stop on Interstate 70. Police recovered 10 pallets of the industrial powder, weighing about 40,000 pounds and valued at roughly $2.86 million, which had been stolen from a shipment in Pennsylvania destined for a Japanese company.
Kumar was able to operate the commercial truck using a valid California-issued commercial driver’s license. He reportedly presented the CDL along with an invalid work visa and a fraudulent New York driver’s license during the stop. The vehicle was tracked using automated cameras, leading officers to discover the stolen cargo inside the trailer. He now faces theft-related charges in Pennsylvania and is being held in immigration detention in California.
The case has sparked renewed criticism of California’s policies that allow individuals with federal work permits to obtain commercial driver’s licenses. Opponents argue these rules create safety and security risks by enabling undocumented immigrants to drive large rigs across state lines. Tungsten oxide, a valuable material used in manufacturing and metallurgy, highlights the scale of the alleged theft.
Authorities returned the cargo to its rightful owner after a representative from the shipping company took possession. The incident continues to fuel broader debates over immigration enforcement, sanctuary state policies, and regulations in the trucking industry.
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