Team truckers accused of stealing gear from World Cup soccer team

Two truck drivers are facing charges related to the theft of thousands of dollars worth of equipment belonging to a FIFA World Cup soccer team visiting Kansas City.

Brothers Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal, both from San Antonio, each face one felony count of Receiving Stolen Property, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

The two men are accused of stealing gear worth $18,000 in value belonging to the English World Cup team.

According to an affidavit, police responded at 5:30 p.m. on June 12 after a semi truck containing the soccer team’s gear arrived at Swope Soccer Complex with items missing from the trailer.

The documents state that a logistics worker asked to search the cab of the truck for the missing items. Kamal and Salik reportedly refused, but when the worker threatened to call police, they retrieved and handed over the missing items from the cab of the truck. The brothers then left the soccer complex. The trucking company was contacted, and the two returned to the scene.

Kamal and Salik told police that they picked up the team’s load from West Palm Beach, Florida. While there, Salik said that he noticed one of the workers loading the truck stealing shoes. Salik said that he contacted an employee associated with the team, who allegedly told him it was okay to take the items.

The brothers said that the truck experienced a load shift while traveling through Columbia, Missouri, and after this they moved items from the trailer to the cab. They said that they had permission to take the items and did not steal them.

The recovered items include several pairs of shoes, cleats, signed jerseys, Goal Keeper’s gloves, and other items.

“Jackson County will not tolerate any criminal activity that targets World Cup visitors, including the international teams that have traveled here to compete,” Johnson said. “We thank the Kansas City Police Department and our on-call attorneys for their quick work investigating this incident and filing charges immediately. Our office is committed to holding these individuals accountable.”

“I am grateful for the quick work of the Kansas City Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office in resolving an investigation across several states, helping crime victims recover goods stolen in transit, and ensuring the accused will face prosecution,” said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. “Kansas City’s public safety leadership will continue to ensure all are safe and offenders will be held accountable swiftly for any misconduct.”

Bond was set for each of the men at $75,000.

The charge of Receiving Stolen Property carries a sentence of between one and seven years.