Sophisticated solutions for cutting-edge cargo crime

As cargo thieves around the world relentlessly target transport and logistics operations, JULIA TEW finds out that fleet managers are being challenged to adopt evermore sophisticated ways of protecting their businesses from potentially devastating losses.

Cargo theft is big business – and it’s thriving. Since 2021, there has been a 1,500% increase in cargo thefts in the US alone. Annual losses are estimated at up to US$35 billion and projected to rise another 22% by the end of 2025 from 2024’s historic highs.

It’s such a growing concern that, in March 2025, the CEO of a US transport and logistics company stood before Congress on behalf of the American Trucking Association and shared how alone he felt. A criminal syndicate had stolen his company’s identity, with devastating consequences for both his income and reputation; law enforcement offered little recourse.

Analysts at CargoNet confirm that complex theft schemes involving document fraud and identity theft are spreading fast. “These aren’t opportunistic crimes,” says Keith Lewis, vice-president of operations for CargoNet. “They’re calculated operations targeting goods with the highest illicit-market value and easiest resale potential.”

Europe faces similar risks. Hotspots include France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, with thieves targeting vehicles in unsecured rest areas and warehouses. Food and beverage products top the list of stolen commodities (10% of incidents), followed by electronics (9%), metals (8%), and alcohol (6%). In one case, fraudsters posing as a French wholesale distributor stole 22 tonnes of cheese valued at over US$360,000.

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are equipping criminals with even more tools to carry out their work, warns Ian Allman, risk control manager at Munich Re Specialty. He adds that there’s often little chance of detection until it’s too late.

South Africa under siege

In South Africa, organised crime syndicates employ increasingly brazen – and often violent – tactics. The country’s freight and logistics industry was valued at around R435 billion in 2024, making it an attractive target. According to Tracker, a business-owned vehicle in South Africa is almost twice as likely to be hijacked than stolen. Gauteng remains the hardest-hit province, accounting for 56% of vehicle-related crime.

Insurance giant Santam’s 2024 results revealed a staggering 128% increase in high-value vehicle theft claims, with many commercial delivery trucks subject to “mafia-style” attacks. Insurance premiums have risen sharply in response.

Established to drive a coordinated response to challenges in the freight logistics system, the National Logistics Crisis Committee estimates that minimising crime and corruption in the transport and logistics sector could help boost GPD growth by between R85 and R300 billion per annum.

E-commerce and courier risks

The boom in online shopping, accelerated by Covid-19, has made courier vehicles prime targets for criminals. Hijacked loads in South Africa are dominated by fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) such as alcohol, clothing, groceries, homeware, and medication. Tracker reports that 81% of such incidents involve FMCGs.

CargoNet’s Lewis warns that it’s no longer enough to rely on traditional physical security measures, noting: “The industry must adopt a multi-layered approach, combining physical security, digital verification, and real-time intelligence sharing.”

Tracker’s chief operating officer Duma Ngcobo concurs that fleet owners must be better prepared for heightened riskswith well-maintained fleets and robust fleet-monitoring solutions. “Additionally, prioritise driver safety through training on vehicle safety checks, emergency protocols, and hijack-prevention strategies,” he advises.

Technology as a shield

Fortunately, ongoing technological and product advancements are helping deliver robust and viable solutions to enhance fleet security. Today’s telematics go well beyond location tracking to offer anti-jamming detection, 24/7 monitoring, and dedicated recovery services. Data analytics can also provide valuable insights for route optimisation and improve incident response.

• Telematics and AI: In South Africa, Netstar’s ProFleet Manager delivers real-time tracking, analytics, and interactive dashboards for enterprise fleets with complex needs. Its Big Data-as-a-Service (BDaaS) capability helps fleet owners and insurers analyse risks without having to worry about managing large data sets.
• Route risk scoring: CargoNet’s RouteScore Application Programming Interface (API), launched in 2025, assigns theft-risk scores to routes in the US and Canada, factoring in cargo type, value, haul length, and theft history.
• Geofencing: This enables fleet managers to set virtual perimeters around high-risk areas. A South African construction firm facing frequent equipment theft and unauthorised vehicle use experienced a 40% drop in incidents after installing DigitFMS tracking devices integrated with geofencing alerts and tamper detection.
• AI-enabled dashcams: Dual camera systems enable facial recognition and can detect both unauthorised cab access and external hazards, sending real-time alerts to control centres and enabling engine immobilisation.

Smarter security solutions

Becoming more common for high-value loads is the use of smart locks, covert tracking, and internet-of-things (IoT) tamper sensors that alert to unauthorised access in real time.

• SmartLock: Developed by T5 tek Inc together with Nordic Semiconductor and Neuvatek, this retrofit system allows secure unlocking via smartphone or remote gateway, replacing vulnerable bolts and padlocks. A cellular IoT-enabled model is also available.
• Bloodhound Tracking Device: This solution fuses covert tracking, environmental sensing, and triple-redundant communication (satellite, cellular, mesh) to ensure uninterrupted global visibility, even at sea or in remote corridors.

These solutions make smash-and-grab or stealth entry far harder – and instantly detectable.

People and partnerships

Technology alone won’t stop cargo theft. Building trustworthy partnerships and embedding a security culture are equally critical.

• Collaboration: Examples include the Eyes & Ears Initiative (E2), a public-private partnership involving real-time intelligence sharing and coordinated enforcement between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and approved private security companies and other approved stakeholders. One success story in 2024 saw the recovery of a truck with 30 tonnes of stolen maize in the Free State and the arrest of four suspects.
• Insurance: It’s key to choose reputable partners that understand high-risk fleets and high-value cargo as well as the geographical context of their clients. Olea South Africa, for example, is the only pan-African broking business in the country, with a footprint in 25 African territories. Providers should also be embracing the digital advances of InsurTech, harnessing machine learning, AI, blockchain, telematics, and big data to enable more tailored coverage and proactive risk management.
• Human factor: The US National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) urges thorough employee screening, continuous driver training, and carrier vetting. Platforms like Verified Carrier in the US can help weed out fraudsters and prevent fictitious pickups and identity spoofing.

As Andrey Drotenko of Verified Carrier notes: “The criminals are more sophisticated than ever, so using every tool at your disposal to truly figure out who you’re working with before giving them any freight is crucial. Vetting does that on the front end, and then protection can be layered up downstream with other methods of securing the freight.”

Every tool matters

Cargo theft is no longer a crime of opportunity; it’s a global industry. From Johannesburg to New Jersey, syndicates are leveraging technology, violence, and fraud to exploit supply chain vulnerabilities. For fleet managers, the choice is stark: hope it doesn’t happen, or adopt a layered defence of technology, partnerships, and vigilance. The evidence is clear – every tool at our disposal will be needed to stay one step ahead.