In an effort to combat the increasingly sophisticated thefts by organised criminal gangs, the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) has launched what it claims is the most comprehensive supply chain security standards for facilities and trucking.
According to TAPA, cargo crime incidents reported for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region were up by two thirds last year.
The organisation said the number of incidents for the region grew by 66% in 2013, with an average loss figure of €235,000, while the loss value of the 10 biggest cargo crimes in the region last year was over €55 million.
The average loss figure for the period 1 January-31 March for all recorded incidents in the region was over €210,000.
The organisation said the revised procedures and processes “further enhance what are widely regarded as some of the most robust security standards available for the prevention of cargo crime.”
Paul Linders, leader of TAPA’s global standards committee said: “Organised gangs of criminals around the world are becoming more sophisticated and daring in their attempts to steal products during the logistics process, and that’s why we regularly review and often upgrade the standards.”
He added: “One of the biggest challenges we face is getting businesses and law enforcement agencies to report loss data to help us understand the true scale of the problem.”
Mr Linders said the cost of a single loss could be between four and eleven times its original value.
