Cargo theft in Mexico continues to rise and this year’s figures show a clear trend towards certain products as the most coveted by criminals, according to AI27 , a company dedicated to predictive and preventive solutions in transportation and logistics, which has warned about specific patterns that could put carriers at risk.
Among the main products that attract the attention of criminals on Mexican roads are groceries, wines and liquors, as well as wires and steel .
Raúl Betancourt, director of Data Science at AI27, explained that the high rate of grocery theft is due to the ease with which these goods can be sold on the black market.
“The high demand for these goods allows thieves to introduce them into informal trade without raising suspicions about their origin,” Betancourt explained.
This leads one to reflect on the imposition of 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports by the United States to Mexico, which could bring more greed among the “owners of other people’s property” with respect to steel loads.
AI27 data reveals that in January 2025, 37% of stolen products belonged to the grocery category , consolidating this historical trend.
Wines and spirits follow , which have been a frequent target of organized crime, while wires and steel occupy third place on the list of most stolen goods.
The report also highlights that the months with the highest incidence of robberies in the last two years have been June and November, with rates of 9.6% and 9.5% , respectively. In particular, June 2024 recorded the highest figure at 10.2%, while November 2023 reached 10.8 percent.
“We have seen an increase in thefts during holiday periods, public holidays and commercial events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November. These times represent opportunities for criminals due to the increase in the movement of goods and less surveillance on certain routes,” warned Betancourt.
The theft of goods not only affects transport companies , it also has an impact on the economy and end consumers.
AI27 estimates that when grocery theft increases for three consecutive months, the prices of these products can increase by up to 7.64%, affecting the pockets of the population.
“Cargo theft has been a constant, but with AI, continuous monitoring and real-time data analysis, we can tackle this problem,” said Betancourt.
Prevention strategies and the implementation of new technologies are key to reducing the impact of these crimes on the logistics sector and the country’s economy.
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