US agencies stage multistate operation targeting train cargo theft

Law enforcement officers in more than two dozen states used thermal imaging drones to search for thieves along rail lines.

Federal agents, railroad police and local officers carried out simultaneous raids along railways and highways in more than two dozen U.S. states. CBS News said it observed the operation, which used infrared-camera drones to look for people opening freight containers.

Cook County Police Commander Michael Ware told the network that thermal imaging helps officers spot people in rail cars and relay their locations to ground teams. In one incident, a camera recorded two men breaking seals on a container holding $35,000 worth of electronics. Ware said officers move in without sirens after suspects are spotted and block possible escape routes.

The FBI estimated that reported cargo-theft losses in the United States and Canada reached nearly $725 million in 2025, 60% above the previous year. The bureau has also warned about schemes in which criminals use fake emails and websites to divert shipments. The Cook County Sheriff’s Police told CBS News that cargo theft is often organized and involves a wide range of goods.