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Federal Prosecutors Target Cargo Theft Networks Exploiting Carrier Identities

Federal authorities have charged a Connecticut driver in a $12 million cargo theft conspiracy that leveraged established trucking company credentials to access legitimate freight shipments. The operation involved at least 24 intercepted loads across multiple carriers, according to court filings in Bridgeport. A separate Chicago investigation uncovered $10 million in stolen copper and liquor obtained through fraudulent carrier impersonation. In New Jersey, criminals redirected a $273,000 seafood shipment by posing as authorized brokers and issuing false delivery instructions to an active driver. These cases reveal a critical vulnerability: criminals gain access to shipments by purchasing or controlling existing motor carriers. Legitimate documentation alone cannot verify actual business control. A valid motor carrier number does not establish who currently controls the business.