Homeland Security probes Mexican cartels’ involvement in retail theft
Investigating Organized Retail Theft: The Fight Against Transnational Criminal Organizations
The Department of Homeland Security’s investigative arm is actively pursuing Mexican, Central American, and South American-based cartels involved in the rampant organized retail theft plaguing U.S. retailers. According to Michael Krol, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations’s New England field office, certain transnational criminal organizations across the Western Hemisphere are either affiliated with or involved in this multibillion-dollar retail crime pandemic.
Cartels with Global Reach
“Certainly cartels that are in Mexico, South and Central America have tentacles all over the world,” Krol said during an interview with the Washington Examiner. “We do have some active investigations involving cartels and organized retail crime and organized theft groups. But I’m really not at liberty to speak to the names of the cartels.”
Mexican cartels are notorious for smuggling people and illicit narcotics, including fentanyl, across the U.S. border. However, criminal groups in other parts of the world, such as Romania and Chile, have also expanded their operations to include crimes in the retail environment.
The Broad Scope of Organized Retail Crime
“When we talk about organized retail crime, it really encompasses kind of a broad scope of criminality,” Krol explained. “That could be your smaller group that might not be very organized to your larger transnational criminal organization that has a structure, has infrastructure, uses Chinese money laundering organizations to launder proceeds, are heavily involved in illicit trade, travel, and finance.”
Regardless of their size, organized crime has dealt a heavy blow to the retail industry, contributing to a staggering $112 billion in retail losses in 2022, up from $94 billion in 2021. Lawmakers and retailers are scrambling to find solutions, with some blaming store closures and others considering the removal of self-checkout lanes.
FBI Deputy Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigative Division Jose A. Perez revealed that the agency has launched an initiative targeting South American theft groups and is sharing intelligence with law enforcement worldwide. One specific ring consists of citizens from Chile and other South American countries who exploit tourist visas to steal goods and ship them internationally.
Homeland Security Investigations: A Global Effort
“Homeland Security Investigations is laser-focused on fighting and attacking transnational criminal organizations, whether it’s cartels or criminal networks involved in financial fraud, drug smuggling, weapons trafficking, organized retail crime. It doesn’t matter what it is, any crime that affects our national border and economic security is really [under] our investigative purview,” Krol emphasized. “We have 93 offices internationally, so when you’re talking about international organizations, we have the global reach to ensure that our transnational criminal investigative units are focused with our special agents overseas to help receive information, work with prosecutors and investigators on the international front to support our domestic field offices in investigations.”
To combat this issue, HSI launched “Operation Boiling Point” to raise public awareness and facilitate collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. By connecting the dots between local knowledge and federal expertise, they aim to dismantle these criminal networks and enhance public safety.
“Our local police departments need our help. They might not see the larger picture of a criminal network,” Krol explained. “What we’re trying to do is help all of our partners — state, local, federal, and industry — to kind of connect the dots here. … What we’re trying to do is direct our partners to maybe a network that’s involved in their area. If we can augment our special agents into those task forces, then certainly that’s something that will benefit not only us, but really the larger public safety sector.”
As the fight against transnational criminal organizations intensifies, Homeland Security Investigations remains committed to protecting national borders and economic security.
Click here to read more from the Washington Examiner.
What role does technology play in HSI’s investigations and efforts to disrupt the activities of criminal organizations involved in organized retail theft
National criminal organizations,” said HSI Deputy Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh. ”We have built strong partnerships with law enforcement agencies across the world to ensure that we are able to effectively investigate and disrupt these criminal networks.”
Through intelligence sharing and joint operations, HSI is working closely with its international counterparts to dismantle the infrastructure of these criminal organizations. This includes targeting their financial networks, dismantling their smuggling operations, and disrupting their illicit trade activities.
One of the challenges in investigating organized retail theft is the global reach of these criminal organizations. They have the ability to adapt and evolve their methods, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to keep up. However, HSI is committed to staying one step ahead through proactive investigations and the use of advanced technology.
“Technology plays a crucial role in our investigations,” Fitzhugh explained. “We leverage data analytics, surveillance technologies, and other cutting-edge tools to gather evidence and build cases against these criminal organizations. This allows us to not only disrupt their immediate criminal activities, but also target the key individuals and networks behind them.”
In addition to targeting the leaders and key members of these criminal organizations, HSI is also focused on disrupting the demand for stolen goods. By working closely with retailers and industry associations, HSI aims to raise awareness about the issue of organized retail theft and foster collaboration in developing strategies to combat it.
Furthermore, HSI is actively involved in training and capacity building initiatives with its international partners. This includes sharing best practices, providing technical assistance, and conducting joint training exercises to enhance the capabilities of law enforcement agencies in the fight against transnational crime.
As the fight against organized retail theft continues, it is clear that a collaborative approach is necessary. The cooperation between law enforcement agencies, retailers, and international partners is crucial in disrupting the activities of these criminal organizations and protecting the interests of businesses and consumers.
In conclusion, organized retail theft is a global issue that requires a global response. The Department of Homeland Security’s investigative arm, in partnership with law enforcement agencies across the world, is actively combating transnational criminal organizations involved in this multibillion-dollar crime pandemic. Through intelligence sharing, joint operations, and the use of advanced technology, HSI is working tirelessly to disrupt the infrastructure of these organizations and protect the retail industry from further harm. However, the fight is far from over, and continued cooperation and collaboration are essential in staying ahead of these sophisticated criminal networks.
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