On May 12, 2025, Singh, a truck driver, was arrested at the Windsor-Detroit border after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered approximately $3 million worth of cocaine concealed in his Canada-bound commercial truck. The drugs were hidden inside Home Depot moving boxes and rubber mats within the trailer’s passenger-side toolbox compartment. Subsequent investigations revealed communications on Singh’s phone indicating his involvement in organized drug trafficking. This arrest marks the third significant cocaine seizure by CBP in Detroit since March 2025, amid an ongoing rise in drug smuggling attempts at key border crossings between the United States and Canada.
Cocaine Discovery and Arrest
On May 12, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers conducting routine inspections at the Windsor-Detroit border stopped a commercial truck driven by Singh, who was en route to Canada. During a thorough search of the vehicle, officials uncovered eight Home Depot moving boxes meticulously vacuum-sealed and secured with duct tape. These boxes, concealed within the passenger-side toolbox compartment of the truck’s trailer and hidden behind rubber mats, contained bricks of cocaine with an estimated street value of $3 million.
Singh was promptly arrested at the scene. Officers noted an unusual response from Singh who appeared unaware of the illicit contents hidden in his truck, which raised suspicions about his level of involvement and awareness regarding the trafficking operation.
Forensic Evidence and Digital Communications
Further investigation included a forensic examination of Singh’s mobile device, which yielded critical evidence. Authorities accessed encrypted messages on the Signal app, believed to be part of an organized drug trafficking network. Communications indicated that Singh coordinated delivery schedules and logistical arrangements with unidentified contacts. Notably, messages referenced planned meetings at trucking stops, including one in Indiana, pointing to an extensive distribution network spanning multiple states.
Implications of the Seizure
A special agent overseeing the investigation highlighted that the quantity of cocaine and the sophisticated concealment method were consistent with large-scale trafficking operations rather than isolated incidents. This seizure represents the third major cocaine confiscation by CBP in the Detroit area since March 2025, reflecting a worrying trend of increased attempts to smuggle narcotics across the U.S.-Canada border.
Border points such as the Ambassador Bridge and Bluewater Bridge have seen rising incidences of smuggling cocaine, fentanyl, and firearms. Many of these interdictions involve suspects and sources traced to the Greater Toronto Area, underscoring the transnational dimension of the current drug trafficking challenges faced by both U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies.
Ongoing Investigations and Legal Proceedings
Singh is currently facing federal charges and will be prosecuted under the jurisdiction of ICE Homeland Security Investigations. The case remains active as investigators work to unravel the full scope of the trafficking network behind this operation. Authorities have indicated that additional arrests and seizures may follow as the investigation progresses.
CBP and allied agencies continue to enhance border security measures and intelligence-sharing protocols in an effort to curb the increasing flow of illicit substances and weapons through strategic border crossings.
This recent arrest at the Windsor-Detroit border and the seizure of approximately $3 million in cocaine underscore the ongoing challenges posed by sophisticated drug trafficking networks operating across the U.S.-Canada border. With this being the third major seizure in the Detroit area since March 2025, authorities are emphasizing the need for enhanced coordination and intelligence-sharing to dismantle these transnational operations. The active investigation into Singh’s activities signals that further developments and enforcement actions are expected as federal agencies intensify efforts to safeguard border security and public safety.
