Criminal Groups Targeting AI Data Center Supply Chain Shipments

Organized criminal groups are targeting the valuable materials and hardware moving through AI data center construction supply chain shipments, as Techradar’s Craig Hale writes in a recent article.

Frequent, multi-million-dollar and multi-billion-dollar hyperscaler investments have made shipping extraordinarily valuable cargo a routine event these days.

Data center buildouts require enormous quantities of copper wiring, servers, graphics processing units (GPUs), and storage hardware. Much of it is transported across long distances by truck. Copper prices are elevated, and cargo thieves have become an increasing threat.

Recent incidents illustrate the scope of the problem. A trailer carrying roughly $1 million in data center equipment was stolen in Alabama. In another theft, about $300,000 worth of copper wire spool was recovered.

Manufacturers are responding by embedding serial numbers, physical trackers, and GPS devices into materials. High-value buyers typically demand documentation and proof of ownership.

Nevertheless, cargo theft data shows overall incidents rising significantly in the past year, and both total losses and average theft values are climbing sharply. The increase is most pronounced in metal theft, which rose more than 70%.

Companies involved in data center construction and hyperscaler supply chains should treat cargo theft as a growing enterprise risk management concern requiring updated contractual protections and insurance review.

Given the interstate nature of these thefts, jurisdictional risk and coordination with law enforcement across state lines are increasingly relevant considerations for corporate security and legal teams. Businesses should also evaluate whether existing supply chain contracts adequately address tracking, documentation, and chain-of-custody requirements.