Seafood thieves targeted an aquaculture site in Maine, New England, making off with a haul of lobster valued at around $400,000 (£297,000), 40,000 oysters, and a quantity of crabmeat. The incidents occurred within a few weeks of each other, starting on November 22 in Casco Bay, Falmouth, where 14 cages of oysters vanished.
The stolen oysters, estimated at $20,000 (£14,800), were mature and ready for sale, along with their containers, according to the Maine Marine Patrol. Marine Patrol Sergeant Matthew Sinclair expressed concern for the small business owner affected by the theft, calling it a devastating situation.
Subsequent thefts took place in Taunton, Massachusetts, with a shipment of crab disappearing from a warehouse on December 2, followed by the theft of lobster meat destined for Costco stores in Illinois and Minnesota on December 12. The fraudulent scheme involved a fake trucking company identified by brokers.
Dylan Rexing, CEO of Rexing Companies, disclosed that the criminals impersonated a legitimate carrier by using a spoofed email address and falsified documents. This type of cargo theft, a long-standing issue, has escalated in recent years, occurring multiple times daily, according to industry experts.
The stolen lobster, due to its perishable nature, likely ended up in restaurants, impacting consumers as Mr. Rexing highlighted the broader repercussions of such crimes. He emphasized that the costs ultimately trickle down to consumers, affecting various industries beyond seafood.
The incidents underscore a pressing issue in the transportation and logistics sector, prompting calls for heightened security measures and vigilance to combat increasingly sophisticated theft tactics.