Cargo Theft Incident - Two truckloads of Santo tequila, valued at over $1 million, were stolen due to sophisticated supply chain infiltration [1] - The theft involved 24,000 bottles of tequila [3] - The tequila was stolen after being trucked from Mexico to Laredo, Texas, and then being loaded onto two semi-trucks destined for Pennsylvania [3] Modus Operandi - The trucking company hired by the logistics company outsourced the job to fake trucking companies with phony credentials [8] - The criminals used a "double brokering" scheme to buy time and steal the tequila [9] - The thieves manipulated the GPS to make it appear the tequila was en route to its destination [9][10] - The drivers were unaware they were participating in a crime, believing they were delivering to a legitimate location [16] Impact and Recovery - The theft impacted Santo Spirits' business, causing them to lose product and potentially lay off employees [11][12] - 11,000 bottles of the stolen tequila were recovered in a warehouse in southeast LA [26] - The second truck of tequila and the thieves were never found [26] Industry Trends and Law Enforcement - US businesses lost over $230 million in goods to physical heists and online schemes last year [13] - Cargo theft by remotely redirecting cargo has increased by 1,200% in the last four years [18] - The LAPD recovered $42.8 million worth of stolen goods in 2024 alone [25]