Organized Groups Have Stolen More Than $100 Million in Tech Cargo in the US

    Trucks carrying equipment for data centers in the U.S. have become a new target for organized crime groups. Since June 2026, more than $100 million (more than 170 million manats) worth of computers and other equipment has been stolen in transit. The criminals compromise online accounts, steal information through fraudulent messages, and spoof GPS signals.    One of the largest thefts occurred in Reno in 2026. A shipment worth $38 million (approximately 64.6 million manats) disappeared in the incident. In the same city in July 2025, $15 million (approximately 25.5 million manats) worth of semiconductors and “Apple” products had been stolen. In June 2026, $13 million (approximately 22.1 million manats) worth of equipment was taken near the Mojave Desert. A shipment stolen on a route to Texas was worth $10 million (approximately 17 million manats).    The stolen cargo includes servers, fiber-optic and copper cables, RAM modules, storage devices, routers, and server rack components. Some servers designed for artificial intelligence systems are also believed to contain GPUs, or graphics processing units. Copper has also become a target for criminals because it is valuable. One of the stolen trailers contained $300,000 (approximately 510,000 manats) worth of copper.    The criminals first gain access to the online accounts of freight brokers and carriers. This allows them to view shipping documents and transportation schedules. They then pose as employees of a trucking company. They track an existing shipment or create a fraudulent order. As a result, a truck carrying valuable equipment is picked up under the name of a legitimate carrier.    In some thefts, escort vehicles were deliberately hit, allowing the truck to get away. In such cases, the driver is also suspected of colluding with the criminals. AI-generated fake identity documents and weak screening during hiring make it easier for unauthorized individuals to drive trucks. In another incident, the signal from a GPS beacon in a trailer was imitated, sending fake coordinates to the system.    Not all stolen equipment is sold on the secondhand market. Some groups find buyers abroad before committing the theft. Law enforcement agencies believe the cargo is taken to countries on which the U.S. has imposed strict export restrictions for artificial intelligence technologies, including China. “Verified Carrier” has detected suspicious activity in India, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Colombia, and Moldova related to cargo thefts in the U.S. Estimates suggest that 6 or 7 out of every 10 stolen shipments are taken abroad.