Organized Food Cargo Theft Rises in Mexico

During 1Q25, theft of food and beverages in Mexico became the most common type of cargo crime. On a global scale, these incidents could pose a threat to food inflation.

According to the latest report from Overhaul, a supply chain risk management company, between January and March 2025, food cargo theft accounted for 34% of all reported incidents nationwide. The report highlights that although these types of products have always been easy targets for criminals, due to their rapid resale in informal markets, this phenomenon has now taken on a more complex dimension. These are no longer isolated cases, but rather planned and systematic operations.

Overhaul pointed out that 62.6% of thefts occur while trucks are in motion, revealing the level of planning and operational capacity behind these crimes. Moreover, 81% of the incidents involve direct violence against drivers. “The theft of food and beverages is no longer a random or improvised act. The networks dedicated to this type of crime operate with their own logistics, allowing them to intercept moving trucks, coordinate attacks during strategic hours, and manipulate tracking systems,” the company stated.

Each assault disrupts supply routes, triggers emergency protocols, and requires the reallocation of resources to recover goods or ensure driver safety. In this scenario, companies are forced to invest in tracking technology, insurance with broader coverage, and continuous training, all of which increase operational costs. This also leads to changes in routes, schedules, and delivery strategies, causing delays and affecting the timeliness of product distribution.

Regarding the location of these thefts, from January to September 2024, 53% were concentrated in the central region of the country and 25% in the Bajio region. Sixty-eight percent of these crimes occurred in six states: Puebla with 23%, the State of Mexico with 20%, Guanajuato and Queretaro with 7% each, San Luis Potosi with 6%, and Jalisco also with 6%, as reported by Luis Villatoro, Director of Supply Chain Security and Intelligence, Overhaul Latin America.

During the same period, temporal patterns indicated that 54% of food and beverage cargo theft occurred on weekdays between Wednesday and Friday. The risk of theft increases at night, particularly between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Specifically, 29% of incidents occurred between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., and 21% between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. Meanwhile, the safest time window for food and beverage transport appears to be between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., according to Overhaul reports.

Beyond the additional costs incurred by food and beverage companies, this issue also leads to temporary shortages in stores, supermarkets, and local markets, particularly affecting remote communities, where restocking takes longer. “Institutional and private responses to these incidents have varied: some companies have improved their tracking systems or changed their routes but the problem persists,” Overhaul warned.

The report concludes that addressing this situation requires a comprehensive strategy that includes crime prevention, stronger intelligence capabilities, support for drivers, targeted measures, and more effective collaboration between authorities, the logistics sector, and insurers.

At the global scale, a report by the British Standards Institution (BSI) revealed that theft in this category increased by 22% worldwide in 2023, highlighting a growing threat amid global inflation. According to the organization, thefts from facilities decreased year-over-year from 26% to 21%. However, container or trailer thefts rose from 4% to 14%, and theft of employee belongings, truck parts, or cash increased from 7% to 10%. Europe and North America recorded the highest rates of theft, with 37% and 23%, respectively.