Posted on 05/08/25
| News Source: FOX45
Baltimore, MD - May 8, 2025 - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in the Baltimore Field Office intercepted 250 stolen vehicles headed for overseas export in 2024, valued at nearly $9.6 million, officials announced Thursday.
The figure marks a 27% decrease from 343 vehicle recoveries in 2023, reflecting a notable local decline even as national recoveries rose.
Nationwide, CBP recovered 1,445 stolen vehicle exports in 2024 — a 9% increase over the 1,316 recovered the year prior. Despite the national uptick, enforcement efforts at Mid-Atlantic ports, including those in Baltimore, appear to be deterring organized vehicle theft in the region.
“Auto theft remains a rising concern in the United States,” said Matthew Suarez, CBP’s Acting Director of Field Operations in Baltimore, via press release. “Customs and Border Protection officers remain committed to combatting this illicit international trade in stolen vehicles by intercepting these vehicles at our seaports and hitting the bad guys where it hurts most — in the wallet.”
The Baltimore Field Office, which oversees exports from New Jersey to North Carolina, ranked second in the country for the number of stolen vehicles recovered, according to authorities.
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At the Area Port of Baltimore, 94 vehicles were recovered, down from 141 in 2023. The Area Port of Norfolk-Newport News saw 126 recoveries, a drop from 180 the previous year. Combined, these ports accounted for over 40% of all regional recoveries.
Over the past five years, officials say the Baltimore Field Office has averaged 212 annual vehicle recoveries.
The majority of the recovered vehicles were bound for West African nations, with Nigeria being the top destination. In 2024, 60% (151 vehicles) were headed to countries such as Ghana, Togo, and Liberia.
Another 26% were destined for the Middle East, with 49 vehicles going to Iraq and 16 to the United Arab Emirates.
CBP officers recovered vehicles from 72 different models. Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) dominated, making up 72% of all recoveries.
The most frequently recovered models included:
Among the most valuable recoveries:
The agency says this work is part of its broader mission to secure U.S. borders and protect the nation's economic interests.