Three Florida residents have been arrested in connection with several stolen semi-trailers and loads of frozen beef that have occurred in Nebraska, including Lancaster County. The sheriff’s office says estimated loss in the initial investigation was about $1 million.
Since June of 2021 the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigation Omaha, has identified nearly 45 thefts that have occurred across Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin totaling $9 million.
Through the investigation, led by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and HSI-Omaha’s Major Crimes Task Force, it was determined that this was a highly sophisticated organized criminal enterprise based out of Miami, Florida that has been targeting beef and pork packaging plants in those six states.
On October 20, HSI Omaha, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol along with assistance from HSI Miami El Dorado Task Force South identified and arrested three principal targets in the enterprise. They also recovered three tractor trailers with stolen merchandise valued at $550,000.
The three people were arrested for transportation of stolen goods and money laundering. The investigation is ongoing.