A 31‑year‑old Indian national named Deepak Kumar was arrested in Greenfield, Indiana, for transporting nearly 3 million dollars of stolen tungsten oxide powder.
Authorities stopped a tractor‑trailer traveling westbound on Interstate 70 after it was linked to a cargo theft in Pennsylvania on June 25.
Investigators say Kumar used forged documents to acquire approximately 40,000 pounds of tungsten oxide, valued at $2.86 million, intended for Mitsubishi Materials Corporation in Japan.
An arrest warrant was issued on charges of theft by unlawful taking and criminal use of a communication facility. Kumar was taken to Hancock County Jail and later transferred to federal custody in California.
The vehicle and trailer were impounded, and a search warrant confirmed the presence of the stolen cargo. Mitsubishi Materials Corporation collected the recovered material in Greenfield.
The suspect was found to possess an invalid work visa, a fraudulent state driver’s license, and a valid commercial driver’s license.
Tungsten oxide is used in ceramics, lasers, optical equipment, high‑tech windows, and the manufacture of armor‑piercing ammunition, highlighting the importance of the stolen material.
The investigation involved cooperation between state and federal authorities, and the suspect faces potential charges related to the traffic stop and search warrant findings.
The case underscores the challenges of monitoring freight transport and preventing large‑scale industrial thefts.
