Mexico: North America's wild frontier for cargo theft

Mexico is fast becoming a hot spot for cargo theft, and while pharmaceutical shipments only made up a small percentage of the total number of incidents in the second quarter of 2010, there seems to be an upward trend.

Recently-released figures from logistics security specialist Freightwatch indicate there were six pharma cargo thefts in the second quarter, double the number in the first quarter.

For comparison the top industrial categories targeted by thieves were building and industrial materials, such as copper shipments, and food/drinks, with 36 and 25 incidents respectively.

The increase ties in with one of the trends identified by Freightwatch in the report, namely a shift in focus by the thieves, and particular the drug cartels, towards high-value shipments.

"Drug gangs continue to target high‐value truckloads to compensate for drug income losses occasioned by law enforcement efforts of Mexican government," according to Freightwatch.

Other trends noted in the report include an increase in driver collusion and information leaks and greater levels of theft activity in the Mexican state of Coahuila and at the port of Colima.

Perhaps most worryingly, Freightwatch also notes a rise in the number of thefts occurring along main highways, which almost invariably involve violence and the kidnapping of drivers.

"Companies in Mexico should take extreme precautions," says Freightwatch's director of intelligence Dan Burges.

"Tracking devices, escorts, monitoring services and the implementation of the best communication means minimise not only the risk of becoming a victim of the increasing trend of cargo theft but also provide a higher degree of personal and business security."

Meanwhile, figures released by Mexico's National Chamber of Cargo Transport indicate that over 10,000 cargo thefts occurred in 2009 costing business a staggering $9bn, according to insurance company Chubb.


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