INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man is facing federal charges following a major drug bust at his east side business.
The open sign has been turned off at the Wash Hand Carwash at 34th and Emerson.
Earlier this week police put the business under surveillance while investigating a man named Derrick Griffin.
According to court records, the investigation into Griffin started following a recent shooting.
That ongoing aggravated assault case led police to the car wash business on Monday.
The criminal complaint filed against Griffin in federal court claimed police found 20 kilos of cocaine in the suspect’s Tesla which was parked in front of the business.
While on scene officers also smelled marijuana inside the building and during a search of the property found another 2 kilos of cocaine, along with heroin, fentanyl and marijuana.
The cocaine, which in total weighed close to 50 pounds, has a maximum street value of around 2 million dollars.
Federal investigators believe busts like this could save lives by preventing violence and potential overdoses.
“Whenever you can get that amount of drugs off the streets, it’s making our community a safer and better place and that’s the important message here,” said DEA assistant special agent in charge Mike Gannon.
In addition to the drugs, police recovered a firearm during the raid.
That gun had been reported stolen in July 2022.
Federal prosecutors have requested the suspect be detained pending trial. A detention hearing has been set for next week.
