NASCAR driver Derek White, as well as 60 other people, have been charged in connection with a massive tobacco and drug smuggling ring, according to a shocking report by Bloomberg. It is unknown whether White was taken into custody with the other suspects.
White is charged in organising what Canadian officials are calling the biggest tobacco and drug smuggling bust in North American history. Officials seized more than 2,294 tons of tobacco leaf, 836 kilos of cocaine, 21 kilos of methamphetamine, 100 grams of fentanyl and 35 pounds of marijuana.
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White allegedly worked within a criminal organization to bring cheap tobacco into Quebec from the United States without paying taxes on it. The cheap tobacco was then sold on Native reserves, such as the Kahnawake and Six Nations reserves. It is unclear whether White was taken into custody with the other suspects Wednesday. White’s lawyer declined to comment to Bloomberg. White wasn’t just an innocent runner in this scheme, according to Bloomberg. Police handed out organization charts of the ring that put White near the top. Profits from the tobacco were then used to buy harder drugs, like crystal meth and cocaine. Police said the ring smuggled 2,294 tons of tobacco leaf without paying a cent in taxes.The illegal operation represents a 409 million USD in missed tax revenue to Quebec and the Canadian government. h/t autoblog
White is a member of the Mohawk tribe and lives in the Kahnawake reserve. He was the first Native American to start in the Sprint Cup last year and has 22 career Xfinity Series starts according to ESPN.