The transport of metal scrap became a target of organized crime in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, the largest steel economy in Mexico. Just one of several criminal groups in the region has reportedly stolen 400 metric tons of metal scrap from the rail cars that transport it, reported the newspaper El Norte.
“Scrap dealers loot MXN 2 million per coup (per assault),” the newspaper published in one of its newspaper headlines.
In an interview with one of the affected businessmen, the newspaper reported that "each robbery of the crowd is about 400 tons of metals (scrap), approximately."
The two million pesos for theft is equivalent to almost $110,000 dollars, this considering that the price of scrap in deposits is paid at MXN 5 pesos per kilogram or its equivalent to $275/mt in the retail market. Although the prices reviewed by SteelOrbis in the northern region of the country, paid by steelmakers are $452/mt for HMS and $528/mt for shredded.
Considering only one theft, such as the one documented by El Norte, of 400 mt, per year the theft would be 146,000 mt. Stolen volume, which would be equivalent to $40.1 million dollars, just considering one of the many robberies that take place in the capital of Nuevo Leon.