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fleets, logistical systems, warehouses and outlets to dispose of goods wholesale. They have a detailed and intimate knowledge of how supply chains operate; they have inside agents and other informants in shipping lines and logistic companies to provide information and tip-offs. The OCG will have core members and many affiliates to be called upon when required. They have qualified lorry drivers and links into transport companies who conduct a legitimate or semi-legitimate trade, as well as being involved in cargo theft. Just as legitimate trucks will take a load from one location and return with another, these thieves do the same. It is not unusual for stolen cargoes to be re-distributed in a matter of hours following a theft. Criminals use the latest technology to aid their operations, such as trackers, GPS jammers and encrypted mobile phones. They know the primary highways, motorways and service areas. They use spotter vehicles to both identify possible targets, accompany stolen loads and watch out for the police. Fraud is another strategy used by criminals to good effect, with fraudsters impersonating a freight forwarder, a trucking company or sometimes an authority to access their target cargo. Impersonating police officers is not new and, indeed, it is an offence in its own right. Perfect storm The perfect storm of labour shortages, the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently events in Eastern Europe has resulted in large-scale congestion at many ports and unprecedented stresses through the supply chain. Businesses are likely to be under increasing pressures, whether operational or financial. Changes, particularly concerning security provisions, should be closely managed; those involved in cargo crime are waiting and watching. This article is reproduced from the TT Club Loss Prevention Supply Chain Security Bulletin (July 2022) and was written by David Thompson. David Thompson joined Signum Services in January 2013 following his retirement from the Metropolitan Police. Signum Services is the in-
The organisation of cargo crime
Freight forwarders face an ever-increasing threat from organised crime, which is becoming increasingly sophisticated, writes David Thompson (pictured)
It is an unfortunate reality that in the world of cargo theft, ‘organised’ crime has rarely been so organised. Unsurprisingly, there are ever- increasing numbers of criminals seeing lucrative opportunities in this type of low-risk, high-reward crime. There exists a whole network of active thieves and handlers of stolen goods operating across the globe and they conduct their activity much as legitimate businesses do. Old and new scams The criminal gangs that operate in the cargo crime arena are quick to seize on any chance or moment that comes their way and are adept at altering their practices either to avoid capture by the long arm of the law, or to find new moneymaking opportunities. That said, we still see a number of methods that have been in common use for many years, such as curtain slashing for example. These organised criminals are adaptive and are now moving to areas such as the internet to find information, locate targets and become more streamlined. Their operations are becoming ever more
house investigative team that conducts criminal investigations on behalf of members of the TT Club, UK P&I Club, the UK Defence Club and ITIC.
sophisticated and efficient. These organised crime groups or ‘OCGs’ have dedicated roles, intelligence networks, vehicle
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October 2022
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