An Indian truck driver who allegedly lives in the United States illegally has been apprehended in connection with the alleged theft of nearly $2.86 million in tungsten oxide powder, a high-value industrial material used in defense, electronics, and advanced manufacturing.
Deepak Kumar, 31, was arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after investigators linked him to a shipment that went missing on its way to Japan.
According to US media reports, the shipment comprised 10 pallets of tungsten oxide powder belonging to Mitsubishi Materials Corporation and was worth $2,857,500. According to authorities, the cargo was set for pickup in late June when contact was lost with the assigned driver.
Investigators eventually tracked down the truck using an automated license plate recognition system, which led to Kumar’s arrest. Officials claimed he presented three kinds of identification: an invalid work visa, a forged New York driver’s license, and a legal California business driver’s license.
The case has sparked interest beyond the suspected cargo theft due to Kumar’s immigration status and the commercial licence he allegedly possessed. The arrest has reignited political debate in the United States about business licensing standards and immigration enforcement, notably in California, where critics have questioned how unauthorized immigrants obtain or maintain commercial driving licenses.
The Trump administration has often advocated that harsher immigration enforcement should extend to employment and licensing systems, while supporters of current state regulations claim that eligibility is based on compliance with licensing laws rather than immigration status alone.
Authorities have accused Kumar with theft-related offenses, and ICE has begun immigration proceedings. Investigators have not revealed whether others were involved in the alleged cargo theft, and the criminal investigation is still ongoing.
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