US tungsten oxide theft to Japan

In late June 2026, police on Interstate 70 in Indiana stopped a semi‑truck after linking it to a large theft of tungsten‑oxide powder reported in Pennsylvania. The driver, Deepak Kumar, a 31‑year‑old California resident, had used falsified documents to obtain the cargo, which was valued at about $2.86 million and destined for Mitsubishi Materials in Japan. The truck, trailer and the entire load were recovered, and Kumar was arrested on charges of theft of movable property and illegal use of communications equipment.

A month later, authorities provided additional details. The theft, involving roughly 18 tons taken from Global Tungsten & Powders in Pennsylvania, was confirmed as the same shipment. While some Indiana charges were dismissed, the case continued under a Pennsylvania warrant. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security noted possible immigration violations and a background of fraud, though these claims await verification. The incident underscores the challenges of securing high‑value industrial chemicals and the coordination of law‑enforcement agencies across state lines.