Truckers pull into wrong warehouse in midst of FBI price-gouging raid
In yesterday’s episode of Freight Broker Live, we spoke briefly about three truckers who pulled into a warehouse in Lakeland, NJ Wednesday afternoon. Immediately after they arrived, the trio of trucks was swarmed by FBI agents who were serving a warrant on a facility.
According to local media reporting, the FBI was serving a warrant on a local business that was reportedly hoarding truckloads of personal protective gear. According to some reports, these businesses were price gouging masks, and other PPE, resulting in the FBI’s hard stance.
According to one of the drivers, he was part of a three truck convoy delivering freight in to Lakeland Wednesday morning.
“We knew it was going to be a long day already but when us 3 trucks pulled into an off site warehouse only to be swarmed by the FBI it was about to go from irritating to interesting pretty darn quick,” said the owner operator. According to the driver, the FBI was on site to search one of the previous warehouse tenants, who according to agents, “vanished last night.”
“We just happened to pull in at the wrong time. The lead supervisor was quick to inform me that “your load may be staying with us.” until they figured out we were not what they were looking for, 3 hours later,” the driver told Freight Broker Live.
On Wednesday, Corruption Watch of NJ posted a Facebook video showing a New Jersey State Police trooper standing by crime tape that sealed off a parking lot as FBI agents went in and out of the Deco Tile warehouse, some carrying boxes.
According to reports, FBI continued their search Thursday in search of PPE. Investigators in FBI jackets entered a warehouse at 155 Oberlin North in Lakeland Thursday. One employee told the Asbury Park Press “it’s about masks.” Multiple freight trucks transported boxes away from the building for hours.
Gov. Phil Murphy, during his daily briefing Thursday, said, “As a general matter, if someone is trying to hoard or price gouge in this hour of need, they deserve that special place in hell.
