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Indiana Police Recover $11M in Stolen Freight, Warn of Organized Cargo Theft Schemes

Indiana State Police have recovered approximately 12 semi-trailer loads of stolen cargo valued at more than $11 million since April 2026. The recoveries spanned north-central, central and south-central regions of the state. Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division troopers, recently trained in cargo theft investigation, are conducting ongoing probes that have generated additional leads and resulted in several arrests and detentions. Investigators have identified sophisticated criminal tactics including chameleon carrier operations, document forgery and repeated load re-brokering. These schemes are designed to disguise illicit activity as legitimate commerce. Fraudulent tactics also encompassed USDOT number theft, falsified carrier identification documents and manipulated electronic logging device data to conceal vehicle locations and routes. Local and federal law enforcement agencies are assisting with the active investigations. Police urged shippers and carriers to identify warning signs before releasing freight.