BOWMANVILLE, ON - AUGUST 31: Derek White, of Canada driver of the # 81 VIP Poker Chevrolet, in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chevrolet Silverado 250 at the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park on August 30, 2013 in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images)
NASCAR announced Tuesday morning that it has indefinitely suspended Canadian racer Derek White, who last week was arrested and charged with three counts each of conspiracy and fraud against the government, and one count of profiteering as a criminal organization.
White is alleged to be one of the top ranking members of a criminal group that smuggled tobacco into Canada and sold illegal narcotics.
Last year White made his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driving debut last year at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where he finished 39th.
For his career, White has 22 starts in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. His best finish was on the Montreal road course in 2012, where he wound up 18th.
White lives near Montreal in the town of Kahnawake and is a member of the Mohawk Indian tribe.
After a series of raids last week, Canadian authorities issued an updated list of contraband seized. It included:
More than 52,800 kilograms of tobacco, representing fraud of approximately $13.5 million;
More than $1.5 million in cash from illegal transactions in Canada;
Nearly $3 million in U.S. dollars;
836 kg of cocaine;
21 kg of methamphetamine;
100 g of Fentanyl; and
35 pounds of cannabis.
"According to documents, the criminal organization imported at least 158 shipments into Canada between August 2014 and March 2016, for a total of 2,085,600 kg of tobacco (or 2294 tons). This quantity represents a fraud of more than 530 M$ to both levels of government," Canadian authorities said in a statement issued after the raids.
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