Report: Thieves Steal Truck Loaded With $2 Million in Prescription Drugs

A tractor trailer loaded with roughly $2 million in prescription narcotics was stolen outside a Bartow County truck stop in the pre-dawn hours of July 22. 

According to an incident report from the Bartow County Sheriff's Office, the driver told authorities he stopped at the Pilot Travel Center at 968 Cass-White Road to use its facilities. 

Once he came back outside, his red 2001 Peterbilt and white 2007 utility cargo were missing.

The responding sheriff's deputy reached out to the trucking company, which had installed a tracking device inside the trailer due to its valuable cargo.

The company was able to provide the approximate location of the trailer, which was relayed to Bartow County 911 in an effort to send additional units to locate the trailer. 

The trailer was discovered traveling southbound on Interstate 75 just south of mile marker 290, but later stopped around mile marker 284 due to an accident. 

A trooper with the Georgia State Patrol got behind the trailer, which was now being pulled by a white Peterbilt. The trailer and cab exited the interstate using the Highway 92 interchange and proceeded to travel eastbound. 

Bartow and Georgia State Patrol authorities initiated a traffic stop as the truck approached the Northpoint Parkway intersection. The truck turned onto Northpoint Parkway and stopped. 

According to WSB-TV, the truck allegedly came to a stop in an industrial park. The alleged thieves exited the passenger door and fled into a nearby wooded area. They remain on the loose. 

Police told the news station the suspects tried to throw off investigators by switching out the truck cab used to pull the trailer. 

The drugs were recovered, but investigators believe the attempted heist was an "inside job," according to the news station. 

Bartow County Sheriff's Sgt. Jonathan Rogers said it's possible someone provided the alleged thieves information on what the truck was transporting.