Seafood thefts are on the rise in the United States, with the latest being a six-figure Costco shipment which the FBI are now investigating.
In the last few weeks, it’s believed that 40,000 oysters, lobsters worth a jaw-dropping $400,000 (£295,300), and a massive cache of crabmeat have all been stolen in New England.
On December 12 2025, a lobster delivery, which was destined for Costco stores across Illinois and Minnesota, was hijacked by criminals.
It’s understood that the meat was stolen from a warehouse by a fraudulent trucking company, with the carrier impersonating a real business, as per Dylan Rexing, CEO of Rexing Companies, the broker who arranged the pickup.
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Speaking to ABC about the ‘devastating situation’, he explained that the criminals posed as a legitimate company, convincing him by spoofing emails, changing the name on the side of a truck, and sharing fake certified driver’s licenses.
They then moved in for the kill, taking the Costco lobsters for themselves.
“It’s a very sophisticated crime,” he added.
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The FBI is currently investigating the missing lobster shipment, though no arrests have been announced, Delish reported.
FOODbible has contacted Costco for further comment.
Chris Burroughs, president and CEO of Transportation Intermediaries Association, a trade organisation for the freight brokerage industry, has said that theft generally falls into two categories.
The lobster heist fits in the first type, which involves impersonation.
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The second theft category, known as strategic theft, usually involves using phishing emails to gain access to computer systems and get paid without actually stealing the product.
The recent seafood heist follows an incident on November 22, where officials suspect a thief bungled 14 cages full of oysters from an aquaculture site in Casco Bay.
It’s reported that many of the stolen oysters were fully grown and ready for sale.
Maine Marine Patrol has stated that the cages were possibly worth $20,000 all together.
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“This is a devastating situation for a small businessman,” said Marine Patrol Sgt. Matthew Sinclair.
Then on 2 December, crabmeat mysteriously disappeared after it left the Lineage Logistics warehouse in Taunton, Massachusetts.
Discussing the recent uptick in cargo thefts, Rexing called it a ‘massive growing problem that needs to get addressed’.
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“It happens every day, multiple times a day,” he said, as per CNN.
The expert also claimed that the stolen seafood had probably already reached restaurants and would ultimately harm consumers.
“Whether you eat seafood or not, they’re stealing other items. They’re stealing items to build your cars. They’re stealing items that go into computers.
“Ultimately, that cost gets thrown to the consumer.”
If you’re in Illinois or Minnesota and plan on nipping into Costco for some lobster soon, don’t be too surprised when you can't find it.
Ella Scott