Brazil vulnerable to cargo theft

   Brazil is vulnerable to cargo theft due largely to the country’s lack of serious legal penalties, according to a recent report from FreightWatch.
   “The lack of serious legal penalties for this type of crime is added incentive for cargo thieves to target the freight that, in light of Brazil’s economic growth, is increasingly moving throughout the country,” FreightWatch said. “Currently, 80 percent of cargo theft is concentrated in southeastern Brazil, the country’s richest and most freight-heavy region. Although this region is comprised of four states— Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo — cargo theft activity predominates in Sao Paulo state. Furthermore, 82 percent of cargo theft in Sao Paulo state occurs in the capital, Sao Paulo city, and the other municipalities within the metropolitan area.”
   The report points to the Aug. 19 arrest of six members of a cargo theft gang that targeted loads in the greater Sao Paulo metropolitan area. During interrogation, the suspects said they had been stealing an average of five loads per week, receiving an average of $14,300 from each one.
   FreightWatch records indicate that Jundiai, Campinas, Osasco, Atibaia, Cajamar and Porto Ferreira were the top cities for cargo theft in Sao Paulo state in the third quarter of 2011.
   The report is available at here.