FBI and Homeland Security to team up to combat freight fraud and cargo theft under new bill

Legislation introduced this week would task federal agencies with teaming up to combat freight fraud and cargo theft.

On June 25, Congressman David Valadao introduced the Safeguarding Our Supply Chains Act, a bill designed to “improve coordination and find solutions to stopping the rampant theft within our nation’s supply chains.”

The bill seeks to establish a Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and a Supply Chain and Theft Task Force led by HSI and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The Supply Chain and Theft Task Force would focus on combatting organized crime groups targeting U.S. rail, motor carrier, and intermodal systems.

The bill would also supply the Supply Chain and Theft Task Force with  $100 million worth of funding for fiscal years 2025 through 2029.

According to Valadao, organized criminal activities impacting the trucking industry increased 46% year-over-year to 925 incidents and 10% from the fourth quarter of 2023.

The bill is endorsed by several trade groups, including the American Trucking Associations (ATA).

The ATA points out that cargo theft “not only disrupts the supply chain for American consumers, but it also endangers the lives of truck drivers and law enforcement.”

“The trucking industry takes great pride in delivering America’s freight safely and on time; however, the billions of tons of goods transported by trucks from coast to coast have increasingly become a prime target for organized crime rings, putting truck drivers at risk and raising costs for consumers,” said American Trucking Associations Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs, Henry Hanscom.  “ATA commends Congressman Valadao for introducing legislation to address this alarming trend and safeguard our supply chain.  The Supply Chain Fraud and Theft Task Force created by this bill would strengthen the partnership between motor carriers, law enforcement, the government, and other supply chain partners to strike an effective blow against organized crime.”