U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Tampa intercepted a stolen 2021 John Deere 310SL backhoe loader valued at over $80,000. The equipment was destined for export to Costa Rica.
The seizure occurred during a routine export examination at the Port of Tampa. The vehicle identification number matched records in the National Crime Information Center database indicating the backhoe had been reported stolen.
The interception was announced via an official post on X by the CBP Florida Field Operations account on December 13, 2025.
CBP conducts regular outbound inspections to prevent the export of stolen vehicles and heavy machinery. Similar interceptions include multiple cases of stolen construction equipment and vehicles bound for international destinations in 2025.
Nationally, CBP recovered 1,445 stolen vehicle exports in 2024, marking a 9% increase from the previous year. Heavy equipment theft for export remains a targeted criminal activity.
