Cargo Theft And Organized Crime

Cargo crime—including theft, fraud, and the passage of contraband through commercial shipping lanes—poses an enormous threat to security and the economy. By understanding the current methods and operations of those who attack the supply chain, industry professionals can design effective security plans and law enforcement can properly investigate these crimes. Cargo Crime: Security and Theft Prevention is drawn from the author’s personal experiences as a law enforcement detective and supervisor and as a regional security manager for a large multimode transportation and logistics company. The book reviews emerging trends, identifies criminal tactics, discusses law enforcement response to cargo theft, and presents best practices to help businesses avoid victimization by cargo thieves. Topics include: The various modes of freight transportation and the differences in cargo crime activity in each mode Methods of operation used by organized crime syndicates and narcotic smugglers The effective use of public and private information-sharing partnerships to thwart criminal activities Known profiles consistent in over 90 percent of contraband shipments Cargo crime is a critical concern of freight transportation operators, manufacturers, shippers, insurers, law enforcement, and consumers. This book arms professionals charged with protecting the supply chain with essential information that can help them investigate and uncover criminal activity and develop a first class cargo security program.

Cargo theft 101 -- Cargo theft defined -- Risk vs. reward -- Organized criminal groups -- The black market -- International cargo theft -- Product targeting -- High tech -- Pharmaceuticals -- The true impact of cargo theft -- Determining risk -- Roles and responsibilities -- Physical security -- In-transit security -- Active monitoring -- Air cargo security -- Rail and pipeline security -- Cargo theft task forces and organizations -- Beyond security.

This report provides an overview of organized retail crime rings, their operations, and goods targeted. It then examines the domestic impact of organized retail crime (ORC) in the arenas of the economy, public health and safety, and domestic security. The report also outlines current efforts by retailers, resale markets, and the federal government to combat ORC. It then analyzes various policy issues that the 111th Congress may wish to consider, including whether current federal resources provided for the investigation of ORC are adequate, whether to amend the U.S. Code to criminalize ORC, and whether to regulate resale marketplaces that may be utilized as fences for criminals to sell stolen goods.

Each year organized groups of professional shoplifters steal or fraudulently obtain billions of dollars in merchandise to resell in an activity known as ORC. These stolen goods can also be sold on online marketplaces, a practice known as "e-fencing." This report assessed ORC and e-fencing. It addresses: (1) types of efforts that select retailers, state and local law enforcement, and federal agencies are undertaking to combat ORC; (2) the extent to which tools or mechanisms exist to facilitate collaboration and info. sharing among these ORC stakeholders; and (3) steps that online marketplaces have taken to combat ORC and e-fencing, and additional actions retailers and law enforcement think may enhance these efforts. Illus. This is a print on demand report.