Criminal Gangs Pose as Truckers to Hijack UK Supply Chains

Published: 17 November 2025 Monday
The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

Criminal networks operating across the United Kingdom are adopting increasingly sophisticated strategies that exploit the country’s vital freight and logistics sector, using deception, counterfeit documents and shell companies to steal goods by the lorryload. Evidence uncovered through a months-long investigation by the BBC has revealed that organised crime groups are now buying up legitimate haulage companies—sometimes using the identities of deceased individuals—to receive cargo as trusted contractors, only to disappear before deliveries ever reach their destinations.

This new tactic marks a worrying escalation in freight crime, which rose dramatically in the last year, soaring from £68 million in losses in 2023 to £111 million in 2024. The figures reflect not only the rise in criminal activity but also the growing vulnerability of the supply chains that keep goods moving across the UK. From electronics and high-end fashion to alcohol, household appliances and construction materials, the range of targeted items shows how no corner of British commerce is safe from the opportunistic and well-structured operations of these gangs.

For one Midlands-based haulier—whose identity has been protected for safety and legal reasons—the crime was not merely a statistic but a direct and disturbing attack on her business. Alison, not her real name, still recalls the disbelief and shock she felt upon learning that a subcontractor her firm hired in good faith had vanished with a lorryload of goods worth £75,000. The subcontractor appeared fully compliant when she checked them: their operator’s licence was valid, their insurance documents were in order, and everything seemed entirely above board. But in reality, the company had been created using the stolen identity of a deceased man, and the criminals behind it had no intention of delivering the cargo entrusted to them.

When the manufacturer called to report that the delivery had failed to arrive, Alison’s team reached immediately for the subcontractor’s number—only to hear an automated message informing them that the line had been disconnected. By then, the lorry had already vanished. It later emerged that the vehicle had been fitted with fake number plates, making it nearly impossible to trace. What appeared to be a legitimate business relationship was, in fact, a calculated deception carried out by a highly organised criminal network.

“It’s incredible that a gang can go in and target a company so blatantly,” Alison said. Her experience is not isolated. Police officers investigating her case informed her that several similar incidents had occurred in various parts of the country, and many were believed to be connected. What looks like a plausible contractor on paper can, in reality, be a trap set up with a single intention—to secure valuable cargo and vanish before anyone realises what has happened.

This particular method of freight theft is not new globally. Europol previously warned of organised groups in mainland Europe who intentionally bought failing transport companies, posing as legitimate hauliers to pick up cargoes before disappearing into the criminal underworld. What is new, however, is its rise in the UK and the scale at which it appears to be unfolding.

The BBC’s investigation also uncovered other types of freight crime, showing that criminals are attacking the supply chain at multiple vulnerable points. Footage gathered during the report shows thieves racing against delivery drivers, breaking into lorries even as they sit in traffic, slashing curtain-sided trailers under the cover of night while drivers are asleep, and infiltrating depots to steal entire trailers loaded with valuable goods. What once required brute force now often involves precision, planning and insider knowledge.

For haulage professionals, the threat feels constant. Drivers report that the moment they pull into lay-bys or motorway rest areas for mandatory rest breaks, they fear waking up to find their vehicle damaged or their load pilfered. Designer clothing, alcohol, electronics and high-value consumer goods remain among the most sought-after items due to their resale potential on the black market.

John Redfern, a former security manager for a major UK supermarket chain, warned that freight theft ultimately affects everyone. “You should care because it hits your wallet,” he said. As the cost of lost products accumulates, companies are forced to compensate through increased retail prices, which directly impacts consumers. What happens in the shadows of the freight industry eventually reflects on supermarket shelves, clothing stores and online retailers.

Police leaders acknowledge the seriousness of the issue. The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has admitted that freight crime is becoming “more sophisticated, more organised,” and that tackling it requires a collaborative approach. They emphasise that forces across the country must work closely with the transport industry, sharing information, intelligence and security strategies to disrupt these criminal networks before they can act.

The police’s National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) has also noted a rise in fraud targeting hauliers, including the use of sham companies created specifically to deceive legitimate firms. These companies typically maintain clean online profiles, forged or stolen documentation, and seemingly legitimate operational capacity. For busy haulage companies under pressure to meet tight delivery schedules, subcontracting to unknown but compliant-looking firms is common—and criminals are exploiting that very need.

Richard Smith, the managing director of the Road Haulage Association, said the situation has reached a critical stage. “Our industry is under attack,” he stated. The organisation hears daily from businesses targeted by “highly organised crime gangs,” and police have recently warned them about the emergence of increasingly sophisticated methods. Smith stressed that hauliers must treat every outsourcing decision with extreme caution, verifying details more rigorously than ever before.

The UK’s transport ecosystem is vast, complex and essential. Every supermarket aisle, every online shopping delivery, every industrial supply chain depends on hauliers. This makes them indispensable—and vulnerable. The logistics industry already operates under immense pressure, dealing with rising fuel costs, driver shortages, post-Brexit bureaucratic hurdles and the unpredictable demands of a changing economy. The added threat of organised crime pushes many businesses to the brink.

As freight crime evolves, so too must the protections against it. Security experts argue that hauliers must increase due diligence processes, verify documentation through official channels, and invest in stronger tracking and anti-theft technologies. But for many small and medium-sized haulage companies, the financial burden of such measures is daunting. Criminal organisations seem to have unlimited resources, while legitimate businesses struggle to stay afloat and stay secure.

Law enforcement agencies continue to call for better industry cooperation, stronger reporting mechanisms and increased funding to combat freight crime. They say that organised criminal groups often operate across regions, moving swiftly, and exploiting gaps in communication between different police forces. Only through a coordinated national response can the growing threat be addressed effectively.

But for victims like Alison, such initiatives, while welcome, may come too late. The financial and emotional impact of falling prey to a sophisticated fraud scheme leaves scars. Her business, which moves millions of pounds worth of goods every year, remains shaken by how easily they were deceived. “Everything looked perfect,” she said. “There were no warning signs. It looked great.” Yet, the crime still happened—swiftly, efficiently and without any trace left behind.

Her experience highlights a stark reality: even the most established and vigilant haulage firms are not immune to the rapidly evolving landscape of organised freight theft. With criminals growing bolder and more innovative, the need for systemic, industry-wide vigilance has never been more pressing.

As freight theft continues to rise, and criminal groups integrate themselves deeper into legitimate transport networks, the security of the UK’s supply chain hangs in the balance. The danger is no longer confined to isolated incidents—it is a nationwide challenge requiring immediate attention, comprehensive reform and a unified approach.