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Watch On "These chips command about double the price that they command inside the United States. So, if a chip costs about $550,000, then they go for about 1 million or more abroad," said Olaf Groth, a professor at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.
While there has been no announcement regarding any arrests, the authorities are said to be investigating the matter. The incident has also raised concerns among experts about the security of high-value technology shipments and the potential national security risks posed by advanced computing hardware making its way into black-market channels.
In a similar incident from Brazil back in September, two pallets containing Nvidia's top-of-the-line GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards, valued at approximately $470,000 (R$2.5 million), disappeared at Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo. The shipment, imported from the US, had reportedly arrived at the airport on September 20 and cleared customs on September 24, but the two pallets went missing the following day after being authorized for release.
The investigation eventually uncovered a possible inside job, with Brazilian police identifying three airport employees suspected of helping carry out the heist. According to reports, two outsourced forklift operators allegedly removed the pallets from a warehouse, an incident that was reportedly captured on CCTV, while a third employee responsible for checking and releasing merchandise allegedly helped bypass the airport's electronic controls.
GPUs from stolen $470,000 Nvidia RTX 5090 shipment at Brazil airport appear for sale online, identified by serial numbers
Nvidia RTX 5090 shipment worth $470,000 goes missing in Brazilian airport
Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/six-pallets-of-nvidia-gpus-worth-usd11-4-million-stolen-in-california-cargo-heist-authorities-investigate-after-truck-posing-as-a-food-transport-company-disappears#main
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