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Ceva Logistics lost $18.3M in eight major cargo thefts this year

Ceva Logistics, the world’s sixth-largest third-party logistics provider by revenue, has suffered eight major cargo thefts over the past year, resulting in losses exceeding $18.3 million in high-value electronics. These incidents highlight systemic security lapses within the company, including outsourcing shipments to unvetted motor carriers and storing trailers in unsecured warehouse yards. Despite employing Overhaul as a cargo security provider, internal audits reveal longstanding vulnerabilities and a sluggish response to addressing them, underscoring the need for enhanced accountability and practices in the logistics sector.

This string of thefts at Ceva occurs amid a broader surge in cargo crime across North America. According to Verisk CargoNet, a risk management service facilitating information sharing among companies and law enforcement, cargo theft incidents rose 27% year-over-year in 2024, with $455 million in goods stolen across 3,625 reported cases—though underreporting due to reputational concerns likely inflates the true figure. In the second quarter alone, thefts increased 13% from the prior year and 9.8% from the first quarter, totaling $64 million in losses, with warehouses accounting for over 40% of stolen trailers.

Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at Verisk CargoNet, explained that theft patterns often involve clusters targeting the same commodities, such as high-value loads worth over a million dollars each. Victims may discover multiple undelivered shipments due to "sloppy business practices" like double brokering, or face rapid, concentrated attacks over a few days. For instance, one carrier recently lost seven loads of energy drinks in quick succession.

Specific Ceva-related examples illustrate the problem’s severity. In a recent Nevada incident, a semi-trailer managed by Ceva carrying $15 million in Apple products and AMD semiconductors was stolen; authorities recovered the empty trailer but made no arrests. Earlier, in May, two individuals were arrested for pilfering nearly $288,000 worth of Apple Watches and MacBooks from a Ceva-transported truck on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Ceva is not unique in facing these challenges, as rising cargo theft reflects industry-wide issues like inadequate carrier vetting and policy violations. To combat this, logistics firms must prioritize robust security measures, including better warehouse protections and stricter oversight of outsourced operations. As crime rings grow more sophisticated, proactive reforms could mitigate multimillion-dollar losses and restore trust in supply chains.

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Freight Fraud Video of the Week 🤩

In this episode of The Freight Break, Dan Lindsey sits down with Michael Caney to dive deep into one of the industry’s biggest challenges — freight fraud. They break down how fraud has evolved, what it looks like today, and how technology is shaping the fight against it. From carrier outreach strategies to the critical need for transparency, this conversation covers it all.

Homeland Security organizes Operation Boiling Point to tackle organized retail crime and cargo theft

In an era where organized crime increasingly targets everyday commerce, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has launched Operation Boiling Point, a comprehensive initiative aimed at dismantling Organized Theft Groups (OTGs) profiting from Organized Retail Crime (ORC), cargo theft, and related illicit activities. These sophisticated criminal networks not only steal billions in goods but also fuel broader threats like narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and even terrorism, undermining U.S. economic security and public safety.

ORC, as defined by HSI, involves two or more individuals conspiring to illegally obtain valuable items from retail establishments through theft or fraud as part of a criminal enterprise. The scale of the problem is staggering: a 2021 report by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the Buy Safe America Coalition estimates that nearly $70 billion in goods were stolen from retailers in 2019 alone, with cargo theft adding $15-35 billion in annual losses. This rampant criminality costs federal and state governments about $15 billion in lost tax revenue, while the average American family shoulders over $500 in additional costs each year due to inflated prices and supply chain disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues, providing OTGs with new opportunities amid economic turmoil.

At its core, Operation Boiling Point seeks to target and disrupt these groups by addressing their systematic operations. OTGs employ "boosters"—professional thieves who travel in crews, using aliases, rental vehicles, specialized tools like "booster bags," and illegally obtained security keys to pilfer high-value merchandise such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, clothing, and catalytic converters. These stolen goods are then funneled to "fences" who purchase them at a fraction of their value and resell via e-commerce platforms, social media, or wholesale channels, often stripping anti-theft devices to reintroduce items into legitimate markets. Cargo theft tactics include fraudulent pick-ups and phony documentation at ports, truck stops, and freight trains.

Led by HSI’s Financial Crimes Unit (FCU) and its network of over 7,100 special agents, the operation leverages partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement through task forces. Key collaborators include private sector groups like the Coalition of Law Enforcement and Retail (CLEAR), the National Retail Federation (NRF), RILA, and the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA), as well as eCommerce platforms for intelligence sharing. This collaborative approach focuses on outreach, investigations, and disrupting OTGs in major hubs such as Los Angeles, Dallas, Memphis, Chicago, and Atlanta.

While specific arrest and seizure figures are not detailed, the operation’s impact is evident in its targeting of high-profile schemes, like the surge in catalytic converter thefts by violent gangs, which exploit precious metals like platinum and rhodium, causing global shortages and price spikes. By addressing these low-risk, high-reward crimes, Operation Boiling Point aims to reduce violence in retail settings, protect communities, and safeguard economic stability.

The public plays a crucial role: suspicious activities can be reported via HSI’s 24/7 tip line at 866-347-2423 or online. As an ongoing national program with global reach, Operation Boiling Point underscores HSI’s commitment to turning up the heat on organized crime, ensuring safer stores and stronger supply chains for all.