A sophisticated criminal operation has hijacked a shipment of lobster worth an estimated $400,000 (£295,000) destined for Costco wholesale stores in the United States, according to the logistics company involved.
The Disappearing Delivery
The high-value consignment of frozen lobster was being transported by the Rexing Companies, a freight firm based in Indiana. The load was collected in Taunton, Massachusetts, and was on its way to retail locations in the states of Illinois and Minnesota. However, it never arrived at its intended destinations.
Dylan Rexing, the president and chief executive of Rexing Companies, stated that the theft was far from a random crime. He believes it was carried out by a driver fraudulently posing as a bona fide carrier. The incident occurred around Sunday 28 December 2025, highlighting an ongoing vulnerability in the freight industry.
A Pattern of Criminal Impersonation
Mr Rexing explained that this theft follows a worrying trend increasingly seen in logistics. "This theft wasn't random," he said. "It followed a pattern we're seeing more and more, where criminals impersonate legitimate carriers using spoofed emails and burner phones to hijack high-value freight while it's in transit."
This method allows organised groups to seamlessly intercept valuable goods without raising immediate alarms, exploiting gaps in verification processes within the supply chain.
Significant Loss and Wider Consequences
The financial blow from the stolen lobster shipment is substantial for the logistics company. Mr Rexing emphasised that such losses force difficult business decisions and contribute to rising costs throughout the entire supply network. He warned that these increased expenses are ultimately passed on to consumers, affecting everyday prices.
Costco, the intended recipient of the seafood, has not publicly commented on the incident following requests from news outlets.
In response to the crime, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly launched an investigation. Mr Rexing used the opportunity to call for stronger federal action, stating: "Brokers are on the front lines of this problem, but we need federal agencies to have modern enforcement tools to keep pace with organised criminal networks. Until that happens, these thefts will continue to disrupt businesses and impact everyday prices."
The case underscores the growing challenge of cargo theft and supply chain fraud, particularly for high-value commodities like seafood, where quick, untraceable resale is possible. Industry experts note that such crimes have become more sophisticated, moving beyond simple theft to include digital deception and identity fraud within the transport sector.
