Rhode Island Lawmakers Support Federal Legislation to Combat Growing Cargo Theft
Rhode Island's U.S. Representative Gabe Amo and U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner, along with Senator Jack Reed, are supporting the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA). This bipartisan legislation aims to strengthen laws against cargo theft and improve coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The bill, which passed overwhelmingly in the U.S. House but is currently stalled in the Senate, seeks to provide enhanced tools for prosecuting interstate theft, cargo crime, and related money laundering. The issue of cargo theft is highlighted as a growing problem across New England, involving sophisticated criminal networks that exploit railroads, trucking companies, warehouses, ports, and online marketplaces. These organizations engage in identity theft, freight shipment breaches, and the movement of stolen merchandise across state and international borders, posing a significant threat to the region's economy and supply chains.
