U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Baltimore Field Office have reported a significant interception of stolen vehicle exports in 2024, recovering 250 vehicles valued at $9.6 million. This marks a decrease from the 343 recoveries made in 2023, representing a 27% decline.
Nationally, CBP saw an increase in recovered stolen vehicle exports, with 1,445 recoveries compared to 1,316 in the previous year—a rise of about 9%. The drop in regional and local numbers is attributed to CBP officers' growing expertise and reputation for identifying attempts to export stolen vehicles through Mid-Atlantic seaports.
"Auto theft remains a rising concern in the United States and transnational criminal organizations continue to victimize our nation’s citizens and our businesses by stealing our vehicles for illicit profit," said Matthew Suarez, CBP’s Acting Director of Field Operations in Baltimore. "Customs and Border Protection officers remain committed to combatting this illicit international trade in stolen vehicles by intercepting these vehicles at our seaports and hitting the bad guys where it hurts most, in the wallet."
The Baltimore Field Office oversees an area stretching from Trenton, N.J., to the Virginia-North Carolina state line. It includes states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C., with busy seaports located throughout this region.
CBP's mission involves rigorous import and export examinations as part of its border security efforts. Officers inspect export documentation against vehicle identification numbers (VIN) and verify them using law enforcement databases to ensure they are not reported stolen.
The agency's broader border security mission includes screening international travelers and cargo for illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit goods, prohibited agriculture items, invasive species, and other threats that could impact public safety or economic stability.
For updates on CBP activities within the Baltimore Field Office area or general information on field operations across various social media platforms can be followed online.
