Charges Dropped Against Trucker Who Says He Was Tricked Into Smuggling a Ton of Marijuana Across Border

Prosecutors have dropped charges against a Canadian trucker who says he was tricked into transporting more than 2,200 pounds of marijuana across the border.

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Federal prosecutors have decided that, for now, they will not charge a Canadian truck driver who was found with more than a ton of marijuana during a July arrest at the U.S. border, after his lawyer successfully argued he was the victim of a drug smuggling scam. The dropping of the charges is not necessarily permanent, but at this point it appears the trucker is in the clear. Emphasis on that “at this point” part. 

32-year-old Tasbir Singh was detained on July 7 after Detroit-based border agents discovered more than 2,200 pounds (nearly 1,000 kilograms) of marijuana in his truck. That haul had an estimated worth of $3.2 million. 

Singh’s explanation was that he thought his truck had been loaded with compression springs following a stop in North York, Ontario. His delivery was to be dropped off in Ohio. He says that COVID-19 protocols stipulated he not get out of his truck as it was being loaded up. 

He told the Detroit Free Press he’d done nothing wrong. 

Singh’s lawyer, Ellen Michaels, said that marijuana dealers got into the trucking company’s computers by hacking into them, and from there said they made a fake springs order to load his trailer with weed.

Michaels said that Singh was unaware of the truck’s actual contents. 

A request filed with the court by the U.S. Attorney’s Office on July 22 had the criminal complaint dismissed without prejudice, which means charges could be refiled at some point in the future. 

“The complaint was dismissed and the defendant released in order to allow the government to investigate further and decide whether criminal prosecution of Singh is appropriate,” said a spokeswoman in a statement for the Attorney’s Office.

Through court documents prosecutors also claim the government needs more time so it can “identify all other individuals who should be held criminally responsible” for the illegal transport. 

Singh is from India. Following 16 days of incarceration he was freed from custody on July 23. That incarceration forced him to miss his Canadian naturalization ceremony, according to CBS 62 Detroit. He is currently back at his home in Windsor, Ontario. 

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