The artificial intelligence boom is reshaping supply chains not only in terms of demand and logistics but also in the risk profile of cargo moving through the transportation network. As technology companies invest billions into data centers and computing capacity, the components that power AI infrastructure—copper, processors, networking equipment and memory modules—have become prime targets for cargo thieves.
According to FreightWaves, the same characteristics that make these commodities essential to AI also make them attractive to thieves: they are valuable, difficult to replace and often traded globally. The report notes that cargo thieves have historically targeted expensive, hard-to-replace goods like consumer electronics, cigarettes and pharmaceuticals, and AI infrastructure appears to be creating another such category.
Copper Demand Surge Underpins Theft Incentives
Market researchers at S&P Global project that copper demand tied specifically to AI and data centers will more than double by 2040, increasing from 1.1 million metric tons in 2025 to 2.5 million metric tons. Additional forecasts suggest overall copper demand could rise by 50% over the same period as artificial intelligence, robotics and electrification reshape global supply chains.
| Metric | 2025 | 2040 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI/data center copper demand | 1.1M metric tons | 2.5M metric tons | +127% |
| Overall copper demand (AI, robotics, electrification) | baseline | baseline +50% | +50% |
As supply chains for these commodities become more strained and their value increases, FreightWaves reports that cargo thieves are adapting alongside the market.
Organized Fraud: Beyond Smash-and-Grab
The thefts are not limited to traditional smash-and-grab operations. According to the report, organized groups are increasingly using fictitious pickups, carrier impersonation and fraudulent paperwork to insert themselves into legitimate freight transactions. A recent case illustrates the scale: eight individuals were indicted for impersonating legitimate carriers across Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Jersey. Prosecutors allege the group used stolen shipment information and fictitious pickups to steal nearly $5 million in freight, including copper and other commodities.
While that case did not involve AI infrastructure specifically, FreightWaves notes it demonstrates how organized criminal groups are exploiting trust within the transportation process. As AI infrastructure expands and more high-value components move through the network, the incentives for such schemes only grow.
Context: Still a Small but Growing Risk
It is important not to overstate the trend. FreightWaves cautions that cargo theft involving AI infrastructure remains a small subset of overall cargo theft activity. Consumer electronics, food and household goods continue to account for a large share of reported incidents. The rise in AI-related theft could simply reflect the broader growth of data centers and the increased movement of expensive commodities rather than a deliberate shift in criminal strategy. However, cargo thieves have consistently followed markets where value is concentrated, and if AI infrastructure continues to attract investment at its current pace, there is little reason to believe criminal organizations will ignore the opportunity.
What This Means for Your Procurement and Logistics Teams
For shippers, carriers and brokers, the emergence of AI-related cargo theft may require a different approach to risk management. FreightWaves reports that verifying an authority and confirming insurance coverage may no longer be enough when high-value infrastructure is involved. Companies may need stronger identity verification, secure document delivery, authenticated pickups, and more robust audit trails showing who was verified, when and how.
The companies building the infrastructure for artificial intelligence are focused on the future. Transportation providers supporting those supply chains must ensure their security practices keep pace with the value of the goods they carry. As the S&P Global forecasts indicate, the volume of copper and other high-value components moving through the network will only increase in the coming years, raising the stakes for cargo theft prevention.
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