ILLINOIS — Federal investigators are probing the theft of a $400,000 shipment of live lobsters bound for Costco locations in Illinois and Minnesota after the cargo disappeared before delivery, according to Rexing Companies, an Indiana-based logistics firm.
The FBI is leading the investigation, which company officials believe is connected to an organized cargo theft ring targeting high-value goods.
“This is a huge issue across the country,” said Dylan Rexing, CEO of Rexing Companies, in an interview with ChicagoLIVE. “It directly impacts businesses and contributes to higher prices for consumers.”
The shipment was reportedly picked up in Taunton, Massachusetts, but never reached its intended destinations in the Midwest. Rexing said the loss has dealt a major financial blow to his Evansville-based company, which employs more than 100 people.
“It affects everything — from hiring plans to employee bonuses,” he said.
Industry experts warn that cargo theft is a growing nationwide problem, costing U.S. businesses billions of dollars each year, as thieves increasingly target shipments of food, electronics, and other valuable commodities.
Authorities have not announced any arrests or recovered the missing shipment. The investigation remains ongoing.