Rio de Janeiro accounts for over half of Brazil's cargo thefts

Rio de Janeiro accounted for 53% of all cargo thefts recorded in Brazil during the first eight months of 2026, according to data from the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. While the number of occurrences in the state has declined since March—reaching a two-decade low of 130 cases in August—the financial impact has intensified. The value of stolen goods rose by 39% compared to the same period in 2025, with total losses reaching R$ 201.1 million, according to Sindicarga.

Discrepancies exist between state and federal data; the Ministry of Justice reported 2,566 occurrences in Rio, while the Civil Police recorded 2,084. Filipe Coelho, president of Sindicarga, attributed these differences to a lack of standardized classification in theft reporting and has called for uniform registration processes.