Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Criminal organizations are increasingly acquiring haulage companies to impersonate legitimate truckers and steal large quantities of goods, according to an investigation by the BBC. In one documented case, a network of haulage firms was bought using the identity of a deceased individual. One such acquired company was subcontracted by a genuine UK transport business, which unwittingly loaded a lorry with goods destined for delivery—only for the cargo to disappear without a trace. Alison, who requested her name be changed, runs a transport company in the Midlands and described the situation as “incredible,” expressing shock that “a gang can go in and target a company so blatantly.”
The method employed in this scheme is only one example of how criminals are targeting haulage firms across the UK. Thefts within the freight sector have surged dramatically, with losses rising from £68 million in 2023 to £111 million last year. The BBC obtained footage revealing a variety of criminal tactics, including breaking into lorries while they are stationary in traffic, cutting locks at depots, and stealing entire trailers laden with valuable items. Drivers frequently report waking to find the curtains on their lorries slashed, with high-value goods such as designer clothing, alcohol, and electronics among the most commonly targeted shipments.
According to former security manager John Redfern, the growing problem of freight theft has wider implications: “You should care because it hits your wallet,” he said, warning that stolen products inevitably lead to increased costs for consumers. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has noted that freight crime is becoming “more sophisticated, more organised,” urging greater cooperation between law enforcement and the haulage industry to tackle the issue.
Further investigation into the case involving Alison’s company uncovered a complex web of fraud involving identities and bogus companies. The company employed as subcontractors, Zus Transport, had recently changed ownership, which was funded by a bank transfer linked to a Romanian lorry driver named Ionut Calin, who went by his middle name, Robert. Strikingly, Robert Calin had died months earlier, yet his name and bank details were used posthumously to register five haulage companies, including Zus Transport. The investigation traced the operator to a Romanian woman associated with a man named Benjamin Mustata, who the previous owners identified as “Benny”—the individual involved in the purchase negotiations. Following inquiries, Mustata denied any wrongdoing but admitted buying Zus Transport on behalf of a relative, distancing himself from the theft. Fraud expert Arun Chauhun analysed the scheme, describing it as “well set-up” and involving deliberate deceit, and voiced concerns over the emotional and financial toll on small businesses. Meanwhile, political figures and law enforcement officials stress the need for a coordinated national response to curb the rising threat of organised freight crime
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.