Sudden hijacking throws Trump into his first real test in office

Trump has only been back in the White House for a month. But things are moving quickly.

Now a sudden hijacking threw Trump into his first real test in office.

Migrant gangs targeting slow-moving freight trains in remote areas of California and Arizona have stolen more than $2 million worth of Nike sneakers, including unreleased models, in a series of highly organized heists, according to federal officials.

Latest Heist Nets $440,000 in Unreleased Air Jordans

The most recent robbery occurred on January 13, when a group of 11 suspects — 10 of whom were in the U.S. illegally — halted a BNSF freight train in a secluded part of Arizona by cutting an air brake hose. According to a criminal complaint filed in Phoenix federal court, the thieves stole nearly 2,000 pairs of Nike sneakers valued at approximately $440,000.

Among the stolen merchandise were Nigel Sylvester x Air Jordan 4s, a coveted sneaker not scheduled for public release until March 14, with a retail price of $225 per pair, the complaint states.

Organized Crime Spree Targets Freight Trains

The January heist is part of a larger crime spree that has plagued BNSF trains in the Mojave Desert since March 2023, with at least 10 similar robberies under federal investigation. Nine of those incidents involved the theft of Nike products, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The 11 suspects in the January robbery were tracked using electronic devices hidden inside some of the shoeboxes. All have pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing or receiving goods stolen from interstate shipment.

Ten of the defendants are Mexican nationals who entered the U.S. illegally, while one is a Mexican citizen currently in asylum processing, court records reveal.

The January incident is not an isolated case. On November 20, Mohave County Sheriff’s deputies in Arizona stopped a white van near Hackberry, shortly after a BNSF train made an emergency stop due to a severed air hose.

Inside the vehicle, authorities found 180 pairs of Air Jordan 11 Retro Legend Blue sneakers, valued at $41,400, according to a separate criminal complaint.

Additional BNSF freight trains were burglarized last year near Kingman and Seligman, Arizona, resulting in the theft of $612,000 worth of Nike sneakers and leading to eight arrests, other federal complaints indicate.

How the Heists Work: Inside the Criminal Operation

The thefts are carefully coordinated, with thieves often receiving tips from warehouse insiders, said Keith Lewis, vice president of operations at Verisk’s CargoNet and a deputy sheriff in Arizona.

The thieves target valuable cargo as it moves along rail lines parallel to Interstate 40, often waiting for trains to switch tracks or slow down. Once onboard, they force open containers to steal the merchandise.

Brynna Cooke, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent, detailed in federal affidavits that the criminals often work with accomplices driving nearby. These accomplices collect the stolen goods when the train stops — either at a scheduled point or due to sabotaged air hoses.

Once stolen, the sneakers are transported to California to be sold locally or through online platforms like Amazon and eBay, according to the LA Times.

Rising Cargo Theft Threatens Supply Chains

Despite railroads investing millions in security measures, cargo theft remains a growing problem. According to the Association of American Railroads, the nation experienced 65,000 train thefts in 2023 — a 40% increase from the previous year.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency estimates that thefts along the supply chain — including from ports, trains, and trucks — cost the U.S. between $15 billion and $35 billion annually.

BNSF, one of the largest freight railroads in the country, has instructed employees not to engage with thieves, instead requiring them to report incidents as they occur.

Experts warn that these thefts are becoming more sophisticated and better organized, posing a serious challenge to national supply chains. Despite increased law enforcement focus, the scale and frequency of these crimes suggest that criminal networks remain undeterred.