A coalition of freight, rail and manufacturing stakeholders, including the American Trucking Association, is urging the U.S. Department of Justice to implement measures to counter cargo theft and organized retail crime.
The group said cargo theft is a growing threat that costs the trucking industry more than $18 million per day. In January, Congress passed legislation within the appropriations bill that directed the DOJ to begin the process of establishing a unified federal response to the threat. However, the group said the DOJ has missed deadlines set by the new law.
In a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, more than 20 groups urged the department to deploy new resources to close enforcement gaps, improve coordination and deter criminal enterprises from their attacks on the U.S. supply chain.
“Cargo theft and [organized retail crime] have escalated dramatically in recent years, affecting freight rail, trucking, retailers, and the broader U.S. economy. These crimes are not isolated or opportunistic, but are increasingly conducted by organized, sophisticated criminal networks operating across state and national borders,” the coalition said in its letter. “Through the resale of stolen goods and related monetization schemes, these criminal rings often engage in broader illicit activities, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and terrorism.”
According to the legislation, the DOJ was supposed to submit a report that identifies U.S. Attorneys’ Offices with the highest rates of cargo theft and directing them to assign at least one additional attorney to those cases, and to provide plans to establish regional task forces to investigate and refer cargo theft cases for prosecution.
“We strongly urge the Department to move swiftly to implement the FY2026 funding and to establish this critical enforcement capacity without delay,” the stakeholders wrote. “The continued rise in cargo theft, [organized retail crime], and gift card fraud presents a growing threat to workers, consumers, the movement of essential goods, and the broader American economy.”