Stolen Alcohol: A Danger to American Communities
Stolen alcohol is an increasing concern for America’s beer and beverage distributors and many other businesses across the supply chain. Sophisticated criminal enterprises are targeting cargo and retail, resulting in higher costs for both businesses and consumers, reduced product availability and heightened safety concerns.
The alcohol industry, including beer and beverage distributors, is a growing target of criminal groups (Click to see recent examples). Beverage and food products, which include alcohol, were cargo thieves’ top targets in 2025, seeing a nearly 50% spike from 2024 and accounting for over 20% of all supply chain theft.
The increase in stolen alcohol requires both federal and state alcohol regulators to greatly increase efforts to prevent sales outside of the three-tier system to protect public health and maintain an orderly, safe marketplace for alcohol.
To help members and regulators better understand and combat these criminal efforts, NBWA has developed memos outlining key facts, strategies and resources:
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, estimated cargo theft losses in the United States and Canada surged to nearly $725 million in 2025 — a 60% year-over-year increase — while confirmed cargo theft incidents increased by 18%.
The FBI defines cargo theft as the theft of goods, chattel, money or baggage that constitutes, in whole or in part, a commercial freight shipment moving in commerce. Costs include:
- Threatens local and national supply chains, and the jobs supported by them
- Inflates consumer prices and finances organized crime
- Businesses face higher insurance premiums due to increased risk
The FBI categorized cargo theft into four categories:
Straight cargo theft occurs when cargo is physically stolen from its current location. This often occurs at truck stops, parking lots, roadside parking, drop lots, rail yards and other situations where cargo is left unattended.
Strategic cargo theft occurs when thieves incorporate deceptive tactics to trick shippers, brokers and carriers into handing loads to thieves instead of the legitimate carrier. This typically involves a variation or combination of the following:
- Identity theft
- Double-brokering
- Phony carriers (also called chameleon carriers)
- Fictitious pick-ups and fraudulent carriers
Cyber cargo theft occurs when cyberattacks are used to gain access to a company’s systems and sensitive data. Thieves then use this information to:
- Spoof legitimate carrier information
- Create fake dispatch emails
- Steal login credentials on online load boards
- File fraudulent documents
Pilferage cargo theft occurs when criminals alter the bill of lading and pilfer small amounts off the truck.
Resources
Distributor Best Practices Memo
- Common types and methods of organized cargo theft
- Steps for recognizing fraudulent activity and protecting your business
- Resources for contacting authorities to ensure they are preventing sales outside the three-tier system
- Resources for contacting authorities and filing tax claims, if applicable
Regulator Best Practices Memo
- The threat to regulated alcohol markets
- How stolen alcohol enters illegal and licensed markets
- Potential state and/or federal actions that can be filed against perpetrators
- Resources for further information
Recent Examples
The alcohol industry is increasingly being targeted by criminal enterprises, harming local businesses and putting public safety at risk. This issue has received attention from major media outlets:
New York Times: U.S. Charges 8 in Beer Heists That Targeted Trains and Warehouses
Eight Bronx men were charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of beer by robbing train yards and warehouses in dozens of thefts across the Northeast.
CNN: Thieves in Florida use tractor trailers to steal more than $1.6 million in alcohol from US distributor
Burglars used tractor trailers to steal more than $1.6 million worth of alcohol from a Florida distribution company.
60 Minutes: How thieves stole 24,000 bottles of Guy Fieri’s tequila in a highway heist
Two semitrucks carrying more than a million dollars’ worth of tequila disappeared on their way to the warehouse.
NBC: Man and 3 minors charged in scheme to steal $72K in alcohol from Fairfax County ABC stores
Detectives say the group has been linked to 15 ABC store thefts from March through July 2026.
Other incidents include: