$8 MILLION Cargo Heist Ring CRUSHED

Container ship docked at a busy industrial port.

Florida law enforcement has dismantled a brazen organized crime ring that systematically looted nearly $8 million in cargo from hardworking truckers and businesses across six counties, showing what real enforcement looks like when leaders prioritize protecting commerce and property rights over coddling criminals.

Story Highlights

Six individuals charged in Major Theft Organization responsible for $7.8 million in cargo thefts spanning May 2023 to March 2025
Criminal enterprise stole 51 commercial vehicles and 28 cargo shipments after disabling GPS trackers to evade detection
Multi-agency investigation led by Florida Highway Patrol brought down sophisticated operation targeting Florida’s vital supply chain
All defendants now face grand theft and conspiracy charges with potential sentences totaling 300 years

Sophisticated Crime Operation Targeted Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced charges on February 12, 2026, against six individuals operating a Major Theft Organization that preyed on unattended semi-trailers across Central and South Florida. Alayn Espinosa Lopez, Yerrison Perez, Yasser Mederos Garcia, Alexis Suarez Hernandez, Alejandro Valdes, and Arley Osmany Hernandez Relova coordinated thefts in Orange, Broward, Polk, Osceola, St. Lucie, and Volusia counties. The criminal enterprise systematically disabled GPS tracking systems to avoid detection before transporting stolen goods to South Florida resale networks. This organized approach distinguishes the operation from typical isolated cargo thefts plaguing the trucking industry.

Two-Year Crime Spree Cost Economy Millions

The investigation began in May 2023 after Orlando-area reports of semi-trailer thefts prompted Florida Highway Patrol’s Cargo Theft Unit to investigate emerging patterns. Between May 2023 and March 2025, the group executed 32 cargo thefts and one vessel theft, stealing high-value goods including electronics, copper wire, HVAC equipment, retail merchandise, cooking oil, food products, energy drinks, wine, and spirits. Colonel Gary Howze of the Florida Highway Patrol emphasized the criminals “targeted hard-working Floridians, disrupted commerce” across key logistics corridors linking Central Florida distribution centers to South Florida markets. The thieves exploited vulnerabilities in unsecured commercial parking zones where trailers sat unattended.

Multi-Agency Coordination Delivers Justice

The Florida Highway Patrol Cargo Theft Unit led the investigation with critical support from Orlando Police Department, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Daytona Beach Police Department, and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. This coordinated approach exemplifies effective law enforcement when agencies prioritize protecting businesses and workers over bureaucratic turf battles. Attorney General Uthmeier stated the organized criminal operation “caused nearly $7.8 million in losses” and promised defendants would “answer in court.” Florida Department of Highway Safety Executive Director Dave Kerner praised the partnerships that dismantled the ring, highlighting the commitment to accountability that Florida voters expect from their leaders.

Economic Impact Extends Beyond Direct Losses

The $7.8 million figure represents direct losses to trucking firms, retailers, and suppliers, but the broader economic damage includes increased insurance premiums, higher freight rates, and disrupted supply chains affecting Florida families. These costs ultimately get passed to consumers through higher prices—another hidden tax imposed by criminal activity that decent citizens must absorb. The bust provides immediate relief by halting ongoing thefts and may deter similar operations through harsh penalties. However, the case underscores persistent vulnerabilities in the logistics sector, particularly for unattended trailers in commercial zones. The investigation remains active with potential for additional charges against resale accomplices, suggesting the criminal network may extend beyond the six currently in custody.

Florida Sets Standard for Law and Order

This successful prosecution demonstrates what happens when state leadership prioritizes protecting property rights and commerce over lenient policies that embolden criminals. The potential 300-year combined sentences facing defendants send a clear message that Florida will not tolerate organized theft targeting the backbone of interstate commerce. The case aligns with broader national concerns about cargo theft, with federal authorities pursuing related double-brokering schemes and Congress considering federal mandates to combat such crimes. Florida’s aggressive stance contrasts sharply with jurisdictions where soft-on-crime prosecutors allow organized retail theft and property crimes to flourish unchecked, devastating honest businesses and driving up costs for law-abiding citizens.