Funds being raised for stolen cars leaving US ports in containers

U.S. Customs agents at the Port of Baltimore face ongoing challenges with vehicle export theft

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents face an uphill battle, especially at the Port of Baltimore. The U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics states that it is “one of the top 20 U.S. ports by tonnage handled and number of containers…and a major hub for the import and export of motor vehicles.”

However, many of these vehicles are stolen and shipped overseas. According to Voice of America, agents inspect hundreds of vehicles every day and usually find at least one vehicle trying to export illegally.

More: Stolen U.S. cars fund terrorism, authorities warn

These models range from the Toyota Avalon to the Ford F-150 Raptor. We can also see the Mercedes crossover, Land Rover Velar and Toyota Sienna, among others.

Scammers use a variety of different methods to obtain vehicles, and the Mercedes was reportedly purchased with a stolen identity. However, officials told the publication that one of the more popular methods is to rent a car for 30 days. After picking up the goods, they immediately ship it into a container, add a new VIN number to the old VIN number, and then prepare it to be shipped overseas. When the lease is up and the car is reported stolen, it may already be en route to its destination.

Speaking of which, the director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Baltimore estimates that “90 to 95 percent of every stolen car we have is destined for West Africa.” This is in stark contrast to the Port of Savannah, where Port of Vanner often sees stolen cars being shipped to Libya, Jordan, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates.

In both cases, however, these vehicles financed bad things. This includes everything from drugs to human trafficking and terrorism.

Unfortunately, there are not enough resources and manpower to search every container. Thankfully, technology is helping, as mobile X-ray machines can quickly scan containers and reveal things that may warrant further inspection.