By Timothy S. Donahue

Top Takeaways:

• Cargo recovered: Authorities seize stolen ALP Drifters nicotine shipment in California
• Federal probe: FBI involved after suspected spoofing and carrier fraud allegations
• Market disruption: Theft interrupted rollout of ALP’s limited-edition Drifters line

The nicotine pouch business is getting crowded. Apparently, it’s crowded enough for someone to allegedly steal 378,000 tins in transit.

A truckload of stolen ALP Drifter Nicotine pouches that disappeared during transit earlier this year has been recovered in California, as authorities continue to investigate what appears to be a sophisticated cargo theft operation tied to the nicotine industry.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said investigators recovered approximately $4 million in stolen merchandise during an April 13 raid on a warehouse in Vernon, California, including the missing ALP Drifters nicotine shipment.

One suspect was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property, but authorities have not released the individual’s name.

Investigators said the recovery operation was conducted by the department’s Major Crimes Bureau Cargo Criminal Apprehension Team and that it also included televisions, shoes, printers, data center cooling equipment, speakers, and cosmetics.

Authorities confirmed that the recovered nicotine products were linked to the theft of more than 378,000 tins of ALP Drifters stolen in March. The shipment disappeared less than 24 hours after ALP Supply Co., the company co-founded by Tucker Carlson, publicly announced the limited-edition product line.

According to the company, the cargo was picked up from a Southern California logistics facility by a truck driver who presented what appeared to be legitimate operating credentials. Initial tracking data showed the shipment heading toward Kentucky before communication was ultimately lost.

ALP later said investigators were examining evidence suggesting the use of tracking-spoofing technology and potentially fraudulent carrier authority in the theft. The company confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation became involved alongside other law enforcement agencies as the case escalated.

The theft drew widespread attention within the nicotine industry because of both the scale of the missing shipment and ALP’s rapid growth in the oral nicotine category. The brand, launched less than two years ago, has gained visibility through frequent sellouts, aggressive marketing, and expanding retail distribution.

Company officials acknowledged that the theft disrupted the planned rollout of the Drifters line, though replacement production was initiated quickly. Carlson addressed the incident in a statement released by the company.

“We know what it feels like to want an Alp so badly that you could hijack a truck full of it. But come on. That’s illegal,” Carlson said. “We’re going to find the people who did this and redistribute their booty. Alp for the people.”

ALP also announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of the shipment or to convictions related to the theft. Photos released by investigators showed pallets stacked with boxed merchandise inside and outside the Vernon warehouse, bearing visible branding from multiple consumer product companies.