$11.4 Million Pallets of NVIDIA AI GPUs "Disappear" on Highway in Oakland, 13 September. This theft demonstrates the high demand for top-tier hardware and the security vulnerabilities in the AI supply chain. Buyers and data center operators should be aware of the high value and portability of these components making them attractive targets for organized crime.
Stolen chips could sell for over $1 million overseas, doubling US value
NVIDIA AI accelerator GPUs that are vital components for training large language models and handling complex AI tasks were stolen in the form of pallets. The truck that featured a food transportation company's logo mysteriously vanished as it headed south from the San Francisco Bay Area.
This joins a list of high-value technology thefts in the area. Another theft of cargo worth $7.5 million was also reported in 2025.
According to UC Berkeley professor Olaf Groth, the stolen chips might be worth more than $1 million on the black market overseas. The reason is that they're approximately twice as expensive abroad compared to what they'd be in the U.S. – possibly $550,000 per unit.
Groth called the GPUs a national security asset due to export restrictions and the worldwide competition for artificial intelligence. Groth pointed out that there's a strong incentive for criminals to steal the chips in areas with lax security protocols. The high potential profits lead them to target international locations such as China or Brazil, where there's still high demand even with restrictions in place. This makes them a continuous threat to logistics firms that transport sensitive technology hardware.
NVIDIA has not made any public statements concerning this particular theft. The Oakland Police Department is investigating the "disappearance" of the truck and valuable cargo. The theft shows the strategic importance of AI hardware and the difficulties in securing high-value shipments in a competitive environment.
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