Freight Crime and Ghost Trucks

The Ghost Trucks: How Organised Crime is Hijacking the UK's Supply Chain

Syndicates of criminals are escalating their tactics by purchasing legitimate haulage companies to orchestrate large-scale cargo thefts. A recent investigation uncovered an audacious scheme where offenders used the personal information of a deceased man to acquire a network of transport firms. These "ghost companies" then pose as credible subcontractors, gaining the trust of larger logistics operators before vanishing with entire lorryloads of high-value goods. This elaborate method marks a significant evolution in freight crime, moving beyond simple opportunism to highly organised, corporate-level fraud that strikes at the heart of the UK's supply lines. The complexity of these operations leaves businesses vulnerable and facing substantial losses.

A Midlands Firm's Nightmare

Alison, the manager of a transport business in the Midlands who requested anonymity, experienced this new criminal strategy firsthand. Her company, which handles products valued in the millions of pounds annually, subcontracted a job to a less sizable firm that presented a completely lawful facade. All the necessary paperwork, from insurance certificates to operator's licences, was in order. A lorry from the subcontracted firm, Zus Transport, arrived at a manufacturer's depot, was loaded with £75,000 worth of home improvement supplies, and then departed. The vehicle, however, was fitted with fabricated license plates. It disappeared entirely, leaving both Alison and the manufacturer stunned when the intended recipient called to ask where their delivery was.

The Escalating National Crisis

This audacious strategy is only one facet of a worsening national problem. Last year, the value of goods stolen from lorries surged to £111 million, a dramatic increase from £68 million in 2023. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has warned that losses have surpassed £1 billion since 2020. This worrying pattern demonstrates that criminals are becoming more ambitious and successful. Footage obtained by news outlets reveals a wide array of methods, including raiding lorries while they make their rounds, forcing entry into trucks in traffic, and stealing entire trailers from depots. The growing sophistication of these gangs poses a severe threat to the UK's economy and the stability of its supply chains.

The Human and Economic Cost

The impact of this crime wave extends far beyond corporate balance sheets. Lorry drivers are on the front line, frequently waking inside their vehicle cabins to find their vehicle's curtained sides slashed by thieves attempting to inspect the cargo. Consignments containing high-end apparel, alcoholic drinks, and consumer gadgets are prime targets. This constant threat affects driver wellbeing and exacerbates recruitment shortages in an already strained industry. Ultimately, consumers bear the cost. As former supermarket security manager John Redfern explained, rising theft inevitably leads to higher prices on shop shelves, hitting every household's budget. The true economic damage is estimated to be around £700 million annually when accounting for wider impacts.

A System Under Attack

Richard Smith, the head of the Road Haulage Association, stated that their sector is facing a sustained assault from elaborate criminal networks. His organisation receives daily reports of businesses being targeted by increasingly complex methods. The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) has acknowledged that cargo-related offences are growing in complexity and organisation, necessitating a coordinated response between law enforcement and the industry. Despite this, critics argue that the issue has been overlooked for an excessive period. A significant challenge is the absence of a specific crime classification for freight theft, meaning a multi-million-pound heist can be recorded in the same category as a minor theft from a car.

Tracing the Criminal Network

The investigation into the theft from Alison's firm led down a twisted path involving identity fraud and luxury vehicles. The company she hired, Zus Transport, had been sold just a month before the incident. The acquisition was financed via a wire payment from a business belonging to a truck operator from Romania, Ionut Calin, who used the name Robert. A web of five logistics businesses, Zus among them, appeared to have been purchased by Mr Calin this year. However, Romanian officials confirmed that Mr Calin had passed away in November 2024, several months prior to his information being used to acquire and register the businesses. No evidence suggests his participation in any unlawful conduct.

The Man Called 'Benny'

The individuals who previously owned the haulage firms reported that their dealings were not with Mr Calin, but rather with an individual known as "Benny." The trail to identify him led to the listed head of Zus Transport, a woman from Romania whose records were scarce. A contact number linked to her WhatsApp profile showed a picture of a woman with a different name pictured inside a Lamborghini. This woman was identified as a family member of the late Mr. Calin and the spouse of Benjamin Mustata. Seven days following the incident at Alison's business, Mr. Mustata and his wife were photographed collecting a brand new Lamborghini at a car showroom. When shown images of Mr Mustata, a former company owner confirmed he was the "Benny" they had met.

A Trail of Connections

The evidence against Mr Mustata mounted. A contact number he utilized for leasing a residence in Coventry was also employed to coordinate the pickup of the plundered merchandise that Alison's firm had subcontracted. "Benny" had used that identical number to purchase a single logistics firm by exploiting the deceased individual's name and banking information. When reporters visited Mr Mustata's listed address with questions about his suspected involvement, they were falsely told he had relocated to Romania. He was later tracked down to Coventry, where he was engaged in the sale of high-end vehicles. When confronted, he refuted claims of exploiting a deceased person's details and leveraging Zus Transport for theft, telling the journalists to "Go away."

Denials and Deception

Mr Mustata acknowledged purchasing Zus Transport but asserted he acted for a family member and did not manage the business during the theft. He suggested someone else must have been using the company's name on a platform for subcontractors to steal the cargo. He attempted to use his home address, where the company was registered, as proof of his innocence, questioning why he would conduct illicit activities from his own residence. He insisted the plundered shipment was entirely unrelated to him and that it was not his fault. His denials, however, stand in stark contrast to the web of evidence connecting him to the sophisticated fraud.

Exploiting Corporate Loopholes

The operation that victimized Alison's business highlights significant vulnerabilities in the UK's corporate registration system. Fraud lawyer Arun Chauhun, after examining the findings, described the operation as highly organised, which entailed identity theft and the deception of Companies House. He noted a pervasive attitude that corporations are able to simply absorb such losses through insurance. In reality, Chauhun explained, these crimes inflict severe damage on the lives of individual business owners. The criminals behind these schemes appear confident that the system lacks the resources to pursue them effectively, allowing them to operate with a sense of impunity.

A Pattern Seen Across Europe

This method of acquiring legitimate but financially struggling companies is not unique to the UK. Europol has previously identified a similar pattern across the European continent, a region where criminal consortiums acquire logistics businesses that are close to financial collapse, use them to pick up multiple high-value cargoes, and then disappear completely. The tactic exploits the trust inherent in the logistics industry's subcontracting model. By presenting a legitimate corporate face, complete with all the necessary documentation, these criminal enterprises can bypass standard security checks and gain access to valuable shipments before disappearing, leaving their victims with significant financial and operational damage.

The Rise of High-Value Targets

Recent data from the law enforcement's National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) reveals a worrying trend. While the total number of recorded freight crime incidents fell slightly in 2024, the financial impact soared. This indicates that offender groups are becoming more strategic, targeting higher-value loads to maximise their profits from fewer operations. They have extensive knowledge of supply chains, understanding which goods are moving, when they are in transit, and where they are most vulnerable. This intelligence-led approach allows them to focus their efforts on lorries parked in unsecured locations like laybys and industrial estates, which are notoriously difficult to police.

Insecurity on the Roads

A critical factor enabling cargo-related offences is the severe shortage of secure parking for heavy goods vehicles across the UK. There is an estimated shortfall of 11,000 lorry parking spaces, forcing many drivers to take their mandatory rest breaks in insecure and isolated locations. Three-quarters of all recorded freight crimes occur in these independent parking areas or at unsecured motorway service stations. This lack of secure infrastructure leaves drivers and their valuable cargo as easy targets for organised gangs, who are well aware of these vulnerabilities and exploit them systematically. The issue transforms a logistical necessity into a significant security risk.

The Black Market Fueling Theft

The stolen goods, ranging from electronics and designer clothing to alcohol and DIY products, are quickly funnelled into a thriving black market. Criminal networks have sophisticated distribution channels, using online platforms like eBay and Vinted, as well as unregulated car boot sales and social clubs, to sell the illicit merchandise at a discount. In some cases, stolen products can even find their way back onto the shelves of legitimate corner shops or supermarkets. This illicit marketplace creates a powerful financial incentive for cargo theft, ensuring that criminal gangs have a ready outlet for their stolen wares and fuelling the cycle of crime that plagues the logistics industry.

Calls for a National Strategy

The growing crisis has prompted calls for a more robust and coordinated response. Rachel Taylor, a Labour MP representing an area where roughly twenty percent of residents work in logistics, stated that the problem has been overlooked for an excessive period. She is campaigning for a unified national policing strategy and increased resources to tackle the issue, aiming to ensure these organised offenders can be imprisoned. The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Freight and Logistics, which she chairs, has published a report calling for reforms to planning policy to facilitate the creation of more secure lorry parks and greater support for law enforcement agencies.

A New Police Focus

In response to the escalating threat, law enforcement is beginning to adapt. The National Police Chiefs' Council has appointed its first-ever head of freight-related crime, Jayne Meir, who holds the rank of Deputy Chief Constable. More significantly, a new specialised team is being established within Opal, the law enforcement's national intelligence unit dedicated to tackling serious organised acquisitive crime. This team is expected to begin targeting freight crime specifically next year, signalling a more focused and intelligence-led approach. The aim is to build a clearer national picture of the criminal gangs involved, share intelligence more effectively between forces, and coordinate operations to disrupt their activities.

The Fight for Business Survival

For business owners like Alison, the impact of these crimes is profound and immediate. She described the immense stress and sleepless nights that follow such a significant loss, stating that they return home at the end of the day but are unable to sleep. The haulage industry operates on notoriously thin profit margins, and a single high-value theft can be enough to push a small or medium-sized company to cease operations entirely. This financial precarity underscores the urgency of the situation. Without effective protection and recourse, the viability of many firms that form the backbone of the UK's supply chain remains under constant threat from organised crime.

The Broader Legislative Push

The RHA is actively campaigning for legislative change to better combat freight crime. A key demand is the creation of a specific crime code for freight offences, which would allow for more accurate data collection and help police identify hotspots and trends. The association is also calling for stricter sentences for perpetrators, arguing that current penalties do not reflect the seriousness of these organised crimes. They believe that freight theft is often treated as a low-risk, high-reward activity by criminals. By increasing the legal deterrents, they hope to change this dynamic and provide greater protection for the industry.

A Technological Arms Race

As criminals become more sophisticated, the logistics industry is turning to technology for solutions. Europol has warned that criminal consortiums are developing innovative methods to exploit automated transportation systems and infiltrate company networks to divert shipments. In response, companies are increasingly adopting advanced GPS tracking, high-security locks, and sophisticated alarm systems to protect their assets. This technological arms race is becoming a crucial front in the fight against cargo theft. However, technology alone is not a panacea; it must be combined with improved physical security, better intelligence sharing, and a more proactive law enforcement response to be truly effective.

The Unseen Victims

While the financial losses are staggering, the human cost of freight crime often goes unrecognised. Lorry drivers are not just operators of vehicles; they are individuals who face the daily risk of confrontation and intimidation. The constant threat of theft takes a significant mental toll, contributing to stress and burnout. Many experienced drivers have left the profession due to safety concerns, worsening the industry's already severe labour shortage. Ensuring the physical and mental wellbeing of these essential workers is a critical component of any effective strategy to secure the UK's supply chains. Their safety is paramount, not just for ethical reasons, but for the resilience of the entire logistics network.