Theft of coffee beans is rising in the United States, with organised gangs targeting truckloads of the commodity as prices hit all-time highs. According to Reuters, criminals are using sophisticated tactics to disguise themselves as legitimate operators, making off with shipments worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Coffee Supply Chains Under Threat
The United States, the world’s largest importer and consumer of coffee, relies heavily on imports to meet domestic demand. The commodity is transported from ports to roasting facilities primarily by truck, creating vulnerabilities along the supply chain.
Over the past year, there has been a sharp increase in thefts, a phenomenon previously considered rare, according to Todd Costley, logistics sales coordinator at Hartley Transportation.
Speaking at the U.S. National Coffee Association’s annual conference in Houston, Costley stated that “dozens of thefts” had occurred in the last year, a significant rise compared to previous trends.
Criminal gangs are reportedly setting up fake transportation companies, securing small contracts with importers by offering competitive rates or immediate availability of trucks. Once the coffee is in their possession, the perpetrators vanish without a trace.
Organised Gangs Exploiting High Prices
The surge in thefts coincides with a sharp rise in global bean prices, making stolen harvests an increasingly lucrative target. Each truckload of unroasted beans carries approximately 44,000 pounds (19,958 kg), valued at around $180,000 at current market prices, according to Reuters.
Some industry experts believe the stolen beans are being offloaded to smaller roasters struggling with the rising cost of raw materials.
Similar incidents have been reported in coffee-producing nations such as Brazil and Vietnam, where thefts tend to occur on farms before beans are processed and exported.
In January, armed criminals in Minas Gerais, Brazil, stole 500 bags of beans valued at approximately $230,000, according to local police. However, in the US, the thefts are more sophisticated, involving deception rather than direct violence.
To combat these risks, some importers have begun placing tracking devices inside coffee bags, hoping to deter theft and recover stolen shipments. However, industry insiders warn that companies must exercise greater caution when selecting transportation partners to prevent further losses.
