What started as a routine traffic stop on Interstate 70 yesterday morning turned into a multimillion-dollar tungsten recovery, according to Greenfield police. Officers said they discovered approximately 40,000 pounds of tungsten oxide powder in a semi-trailer, valued at around $2.86 million. The driver was apprehended on the spot and is being held at the Hancock County Jail.
Officers were alerted to a semi traveling westbound on I-70 around 6 a.m. and stopped it as it entered Hancock County, according to WISH-TV. Police said they uncovered roughly 40,000 pounds of tungsten oxide powder inside the trailer, valued at around $2,857,500, and arrested the driver, Deepak Kumar, 31, of Fresno, California. Pennsylvania has subsequently issued an arrest warrant for Kumar on charges of theft by unlawful taking and criminal use of a communication service, and detectives say the truck is being held as evidence.
According to investigators, the container was scheduled to be delivered to Mitsubishi Materials Corporation in Japan, and a business representative arrived at Greenfield to take ownership of the seized material. Mitsubishi Materials Corporation is a global producer and recycler of metal and chemical goods, including tungsten compounds, and its corporate materials emphasize processing and recycling. Tungsten oxide and similar powders are used in manufacturing ranging from cutting tools and wear parts to electronics and other high-tech applications, and the mineral is classified as a strategic commodity by the United States Geological Survey.
Greenfield Police booked the motorist into the Hancock County Jail and said he will face criminal charges in Indiana. According to law enforcement reports, he is also wanted in Pennsylvania on theft warrants. The truck and its load are still in police custody as investigators work with Pennsylvania officials and the corporation that reported the theft. WISH-TV says that officials have not revealed any additional information regarding how the cargo was moved or how long the inquiry will take.
Beyond the eye-popping price, local officials say the seizure highlights two local concerns: the flow of high-value industrial cargo along the I-70 freight corridor and the strain that unpredictable critical-materials markets have on supply chains. Police said the case also demonstrates normal interagency collaboration when freight is reported stolen across state lines. Investigators have requested anyone with knowledge to contact the Greenfield police.
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