STOLEN CARGO MAY CONSIST OF VALUABLE SECURITIES, DRUGS, PRECIOUS METALS, AND SUCH THINGS AS SHOES AND CIGARETTES. SUCH THEFT AFFECTS FOUR KEY INDUSTRIES: AIR, RAIL, TRUCK, AND MARITIME TRANSPORT. A FEDERAL STUDY PLACES THE ANNUAL LOSSES DUE TO AIR CARGO THEFTS AT $400 MILLION AND RAIL CARGO AT $600 MILLION. THEFTS OF TRUCK CARGO TOTAL $1.2 BILLION, WHILE MARITIME LOSSES TOTAL $300 MILLION. ORGANIZED CRIME SYNDICATES ARE ABLE TO PREY ON AIR, LAND, AND WATER TRANSPORTS, BOTH IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD, BY MANIPULATING RECORDS, BRIBING MANAGEMENT OR LINE PERSONNEL, OR SIMPLY BY USING FORCE. NOT ONLY DOES SUCH WIDESPREAD, ORGANIZED CARGO THEFT RESULT IN LOST INDUSTRIAL AND RETAIL REVENUE, IT ALSO LEADS TO HIGHER CONSUMER PRICES, SKYROCKETING INSURANCE PREMIUMS, A DIMINUTION OF THE TAX BASE, AND IN SOME CASES, CORPORATE BANKRUPTCY. WHILE ORGANIZED CRIME MAY PLAY A DIRECT AND VISIBLE PART IN CARGO THEFTS, THEIR ROLE MAY ALSO TAKE INDIRECT FORMS AND MAY BE FACILITATED BY THE VERY NATURE OF THE STOLEN MERCHANDISE. FOR EXAMPLE, SECURITIES, DIAMONDS, PLATINUM, RADIOACTIVE PLUTONIUM, ARTWORKS, GOLD AND OTHER PRECIOUS METALS REQUIRE A SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM OF FENCES AS WELL AS FORGERS AND COUNTERFEITERS TO PREPARE PHONY IDENTIFICATION AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION. A NUMBER OF STATE AND FEDERAL STATUTES ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF CARGO THEFTS, INCLUDING THEFT, EMBEZZLEMENT, AND FENCING STATUTES, AND CODES WHICH OUTLAW HIJACKING AND THE INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF STOLEN GOODS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT A WELL COORDINATED NATIONAL STRATEGY IS NEEDED -- ONE THAT TAKES BOTH THE PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT SECTORS INTO CONSIDERATION. (KBL)