**London**: A report reveals a staggering 79% rise in gang-related thefts within the food supply chain, costing businesses approximately £600 million in stolen cargo in 2024. Experts highlight the growing threat of hijackings, with sophisticated criminal techniques presenting major challenges for companies across the globe.
Gang-related thefts targeting the food supply chain have seen a significant increase, with reports indicating a rise of 79% in the past year, culminating in approximately £600 million worth of stolen cargo shipments in 2024. The rise in crime has been attributed to a variety of factors, including enhanced technological capabilities that allow hijackers to precisely track the movement of goods, enabling them to execute thefts directly from ports, railyards, and airports.
According to recent research conducted by the British Standards Institution (BSI), food and beverage thefts alone accounted for 22% of all product thefts within the transportation network. This figure represents one in three supply chain hijackings, emphasising the vulnerability of the food sector. Agricultural products, meanwhile, comprised 10% of all product thefts, while electronics accounted for 9%. The research highlights that the challenges facing businesses have become increasingly complex, significantly influencing operational costs.
Large-scale thefts have flagged concerns in recent months, with notable incidents including the $2.5 million heist of premium olive oil in Houston, Texas, and the theft of 1,000 tonnes of soybeans in Argentina. A BSI spokesperson elaborated on the situation, stating: “As prices rise due to a range of factors, food and drink products that are now higher in value become more attractive to criminals. Increases in supply chain thefts are prompting companies to invest more in security in an effort to thwart hijackers and criminals – these extra costs could be passed on to consumers in the cost of products. They could also lead to reduced availability and variety of products.”
Hijacking incidents have emerged as the most common method of theft, accounting for nearly a quarter of all reported cases. Within this context, South America was identified as a key region for such activities, with 52% of all hijacking offences occurring there. Other notable regions include North America and Africa, while the UK has witnessed a troubling trend of strategic thefts. Criminals are increasingly using deception combined with digital tools to facilitate their activities, moving away from more traditional methods of road-side robberies.
The analysis indicated that 41% of global thefts took place in-transit, while 21% occurred from warehouses. Other locations included unsecured roadside parking and parking lots, each accounting for 4%. Interestingly, the movement away from stealing cargo from containers and trailers reflects a shift towards the theft of entire vehicles, which thieves use to transport stolen goods.
Further complicating the landscape, there have been growing instances where employees are implicated in orchestrating the hijacking of trucks, occasionally to submit fraudulent insurance claims. Smaller, incremental thefts by employees have become a recognised issue, allowing substantial corporate losses to accumulate over time.
BSI Chief Executive Susan Taylor Martin advised that, amid these threats, businesses should prioritise resilience, especially with the advent of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, which presents both opportunities and fresh risks. She emphasised the importance of leveraging technological innovation and effective risk management strategies to navigate this challenging environment.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Subscribe to Industry Updates
