Document Type

Report

Publication Date

5-2026

Abstract

Over the past fifteen years, the BNSF and Union Pacific railways have been targeted by train heists linked to cartel and other transnational criminal organizations in Mexico. Many of these thefts occur on railways operating in the southwest of the U.S., including California, Arizona, and New Mexico, by groups with established cross-border connections. Train heists and cargo theft linked to these criminal enterprises have increased over the past two years. One recurring pattern involves eastbound BNSF trains departing the Port of Long Beach and moving inland along corridors parallel to Interstate 40 near Needles, CA, carrying intermodal containers filled with high-value consumer goods destined for distribution hubs across the United States. Cargo theft is a persistent challenge in the U.S., resulting in financial loss, impact to the supply chain, and security challenges. The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) estimates that cargo thefts account for $15 - $35 billion in loss annually in the U.S. The following report examines federal prosecutions associated with cargo train heists and their link to transnational criminal organizations in the U.S. and Mexico, emphasizing the complexity of the broader cargo theft operations within the U.S. and challenges associated with intervention and deterrence by law enforcement.

Accessibility Statement

PDF passed the Adobe Accessibility Checker prior to upload. 

Download

Share

COinS