36,000 Kilograms of Beef Stolen from Tennessee Meat Facility
Organized theft leaves questions—and empty trucks—behind.
A large-scale theft has shaken a meat processing facility in Bean Station, Tennessee, where approximately 36,000 kilograms of beef (equivalent to 80,000 pounds) was stolen under suspicious circumstances. The incident is currently under investigation by the Grainger County Sheriff’s Office.
What Happened
On March 25, authorities began looking into the disappearance of two full shipments of beef from Southeastern Provision, LLC, a processing facility in East Tennessee. The shipments were intended for delivery to customers in Kentucky and Michigan but never arrived.
According to the sheriff’s report, a company called List Trucking Sales was subcontracted to pick up the beef. After the pickup, communication with the trucking company abruptly stopped. The contact information provided by List Trucking Sales appears to be false, and identification for the drivers was never properly verified at the time of loading.
The Loss
The two stolen shipments carried beef valued at approximately $350,000 USD (roughly €325,000). Neither the meat nor the drivers have been located, and the legitimacy of the transport company is in serious doubt.
No Stranger to Headlines
This is not the first time Southeastern Provision has drawn public attention. The facility was the target of a high-profile immigration raid in 2018, where nearly 100 Latino workers were detained. That event led to a federal lawsuit, which concluded in 2023 with a settlement awarding over $1 million to affected workers. The case raised issues related to racial profiling and unlawful search and seizure practices by federal agents.
What’s Next
As of now, there are more questions than answers. Authorities are working to trace the fake trucking company and determine how such a large theft could occur with no immediate red flags. The incident highlights vulnerabilities in supply chain logistics—particularly in verifying subcontracted transport partners.
This investigation is ongoing.