The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) on May 14, 2026, with a vote of 348-60, legislation aimed at strengthening coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat organized retail crime and cargo theft. The bipartisan bill was introduced by Representatives Susie Lee (D-NV) and Dave Joyce (R-OH).
The legislation temporarily establishes a center within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to coordinate federal law enforcement activities related to organized retail and supply chain crime. The bill broadens the scope of offenses by allowing prosecutions to be based on the aggregate value of stolen items over a 12-month period for interstate transportation or sale of stolen goods. Strategic theft—a crime category using deception, identity theft, and fraudulent documentation to divert freight—has surged by 1,500% since 2021 according to CargoNet data. The American Transportation Research Institute calculated cargo theft costs the trucking industry over $18 million per day.
According to CargoNet's 2025 annual report, estimated cargo theft losses in the U.S. and Canada surged to nearly $725 million, a 60% increase from 2024, as organized criminal groups increasingly focused on high-value shipments. The average value per theft rose to $273,990, up 36% from $202,364 in 2024. Confirmed cargo theft incidents increased 18% year-over-year from 2,243 in 2024 to 2,646 in 2025. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration before being sent to the President to be signed into law.
CORCA is supported by a coalition of nearly 100 stakeholders including the National Retail Federation, American Trucking Associations, UPS, Amazon, Home Depot, and the National Fraternal Order of Police. Ninety percent of motor carriers are small businesses operating 10 trucks or fewer, and they are under enormous strain to counter these technologically advanced adversaries. The proceeds from stolen goods finance other criminal activities, including drug trafficking, organized crime, and potentially terrorism.
Note: This summary draws on SupplyChainBrain's publicly visible headline + subhead + opening paragraph and on sector background on cargo theft.
Key Takeaways:
1. U.S. House passed CORCA bill targeting organized cargo theft with 348-60 vote margin
2. Legislation establishes federal coordination center within DHS to tackle interstate crime
3. 2025 cargo theft losses surged 60% to $725M with average theft value reaching $274K
4. Strategic theft (using deception and fraudulent documents) incidents jumped 1,500% since 2021
5. Bill now awaits Senate approval, backed by coalition of nearly 100 industry stakeholders
