The case, investigated by French authorities for almost a year, paints a picture of a well-organized criminal structure exploiting both gaps in logistics security and digital tools used in the transport industry. In the background are not only warehouses and motorway parking areas, but also freight-forwarding apps and encrypted messaging services.
From a failed break-in to dismantling the network
The investigation began with a failed raid on a warehouse in Roye, in the Somme region, in August 2025, according to French media reports. The theft was thwarted by security, and as they fled, the perpetrators left behind identity documents and a mobile phone.
“This allowed us to piece together the structure of the network, brick by brick. Its members communicated via the encrypted messaging app Signal,” said Audran Chevalier, deputy prosecutor for combating organised crime.
During the operation, it was established that the perpetrators operated from three bases in the Pas-de-Calais region, using disused warehouses with parking areas and sleeping quarters. In total, they are believed to be responsible for around ten large-scale thefts, mainly in the Hauts-de-France region.
Impersonating transport companies
Investigators point to a particularly important element of the group’s modus operandi. The criminals allegedly used apps that connect carriers and forwarders, where they searched for potential loads and took control of the shipments by impersonating legitimate transport companies.
The fraud mechanism was simple but effective. According to the findings, it was enough to change a company name by one or two letters to take over an order and gain access to the load. The goods then disappeared along with the perpetrators, who returned to their bases.
The investigation also uncovered other methods, including fuel theft and the theft of loads from semi-trailers left in parking areas and along motorways, especially in poorly monitored locations.
Metals, cosmetics and fuel: losses in the millions of euros
The group’s activities covered a wide range of goods. The stolen items included metals such as nickel and chromium, cosmetic products and fuel.
Particularly heavy losses were recorded for metals, where the stolen tin alone was valued at €720,000. The recovered goods also included cosmetics, toothpaste and a tonne of smuggled tobacco.
During the arrests, officers also seized more than 800 litres of petrol and forty full jerrycans, which were handed over to the French National Sea Rescue Association.
Total losses, according to investigators, amount to more than €2 million, not including losses resulting from diesel theft.
International structure and distribution channels to Western Europe
During the investigation, around ten people linked to the network were identified, spanning the regions of Pas-de-Calais, Nord, Somme and Aisne.
Importantly, investigators point to the international nature of the operation, including receiving channels in Belgium and the Netherlands. That is where the stolen loads were reportedly sent before being distributed further.
According to the findings of French law enforcement, France served as the “hunting ground”, after which the goods were to be taken out of the country and sold on other markets. There are also suspicions of money laundering and transfers to Romania.
European institutions, including Eurojust and Europol, were also involved in the case, underscoring the scale and cross-border nature of criminal activity that increasingly exploits the complexity of European logistics chains.
