Three airport workers linked to $470,000 Nvidia RTX 5090 heist in Brazil

A shipment of valuable Nvidia graphics cards was stolen from a Brazilian airport by insiders who bypassed security controls.

How it unfolded

• September 20: A shipment of Nvidia RTX 5090 GPUs imported from the United States arrived in Brazil, valued at nearly $500,000.
• September 21: Two outsourced forklift operators removed two pallets of the hardware from the warehouse, an action recorded by CCTV.
• September 24: The goods were officially registered with customs authorities in Brazil.
• September 25: The pallets were authorized for release but went missing from the secure area shortly afterward.
• Recent days: One stolen Zotac Gaming RTX 5090 appeared for sale on the online marketplace OLX for over $6,000.

Who is affected

Brazilian police and Guarulhos International Airport authorities have identified three employees believed to be responsible for the theft, according to Tom's Hardware. The suspects include the two forklift operators who physically moved the cargo and a third "checker" employee. This third individual allegedly manipulated the electronic system to allow the merchandise to pass through controls without proper authorization. The specific identities of the workers have not been publicly released, and the seller of the online listing remains unknown.

What happens next

Guarulhos International Airport issued a statement indicating that the investigation is the responsibility of competent authorities to clarify the circumstances. The listing for the single graphics card on OLX has been taken down after a Brazilian TV news network identified the card's serial number as matching the missing haul. Police stated that the equipment was loaded onto a truck after the initial removal and has not been seen since. Authorities are likely continuing to track the remaining units and investigate the accomplices.

The background in plain language

High-end graphics processing units serve dual purposes: consumer gaming and artificial intelligence computation. When demand for AI processing surges, these cards often disappear from standard retail channels, creating a black market where prices inflate significantly. This scarcity makes unguarded shipments attractive targets for theft. Internal actors who have access to logistics systems and physical storage areas pose a unique risk because they can bypass external security measures. Organizations usually mitigate this by separating duties between physical handlers and system operators, ensuring that no single person can move and clear goods simultaneously.

What to do and how to stay safe: Nvidia

• Verify the provenance of high-value hardware purchases by checking seller ratings and avoiding deals that seem too good to be true.
• Require sellers to provide clear images of serial numbers and cross-reference them with manufacturer databases before transferring funds.
• Monitor online marketplaces for listings of recently stolen or missing high-value technology using known serial numbers or model identifiers.
• Report suspicious listings to the platform and local authorities immediately to help disrupt illicit sales channels.

Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security for Small Business: Control Without Cost

General security guidance from the Circuit Observer newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.

Frequently asked questions

How much was the stolen shipment worth?

The shipment was worth approximately $470,000, with some reports estimating the value at nearly $500,000.

Which specific model of GPU was stolen?

The stolen hardware consisted of Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards, including at least one Zotac Gaming model.

Were the thieves caught?

Police have identified three employees involved in the theft, but it is unclear if arrests have been made or if the full shipment was recovered.