GREENFIELD, INDIANA — A California truck driver was arrested on Interstate 70 in Greenfield Saturday morning after police stopped his semi and confirmed it was carrying nearly 40,000 pounds of stolen Tungsten Oxide Powder worth $2,857,500 that had been fraudulently obtained in Pennsylvania and was destined for Mitsubishi Materials Corporation in Japan.

Greenfield Police Department received an alert at approximately 6 a.m. on June 27 about a semi traveling westbound on I-70 entering Hancock County that was believed to be connected to a cargo theft in Pennsylvania on June 25. Officers located the truck near the Greenfield exit at mile marker 104 and conducted a traffic stop on I-70 just west of the exit.

The driver was identified as Deepak Kumar, 31, of Fresno, California. According to GPD, Kumar is suspected of using fraudulent documents to obtain the load of Tungsten Oxide Powder, an industrial material used in manufacturing. Kumar was arrested at the scene and transported to the Hancock County Jail.

The truck and trailer were impounded by Inman's Towing of Greenfield and held as evidence pending a search warrant. The search warrant was executed and officers confirmed the stolen cargo was present in the trailer.

A Pennsylvania arrest warrant was issued charging Kumar with theft by unlawful taking of movable property and criminal use of a communication facility. The Hancock County Prosecutor's Office will determine whether additional Indiana charges will be filed.

On June 28, a Mitsubishi Materials Corporation representative traveled to Greenfield and took possession of the recovered cargo.

"With the use of modern technology and diligent police work, Mr. Kumar is in jail and will face prosecution for his alleged crimes," GPD said.

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