A criminal gang believed to be responsible for more than half of all mobile phone thefts in London over a two-year period has pleaded guilty. The Metropolitan Police announced that they have dismantled what is thought to be the UK's largest mobile phone smuggling network.
How the Gang Operated
The gang paid street-level thieves up to £300 for each stolen device. They are suspected of smuggling nearly 40,000 stolen phones to China, where they could be resold for as much as £4,000 apiece. The investigation, lasting nearly a year, uncovered a sophisticated supply chain linking street thieves, handlers, and international exporters.
Breakthrough at Heathrow
The case broke in December 2024 when a suspicious shipment of around 1,000 iPhones bound for Hong Kong was discovered at Heathrow Airport, ready to be flown out. This discovery triggered Operation Echosteep, bringing in specialist detectives usually tasked with tackling armed robbery and drug smuggling.
Police later intercepted additional shipments and used forensic evidence to identify suspects. On September 23, 2025, officers arrested Amir Muhammad Khadikhel, 35, and Ismat Miakhel, 33, in north-east London. Hundreds of stolen phones were found in their car, with a further 2,000 devices recovered from linked properties. A third man, Mansoor Mohammed, 30, was arrested later in connection with the operation.
Scale of the Operation
So far, police have made 14 arrests, seized over 10,000 stolen iPhones, and recovered more than £250,000 in cash. Over 1,000 victims have been reunited with their phones. Detectives say the gang focused on high-end devices, with thieves paid up to £300 per phone. Some were later sold abroad for as much as £4,000 each.
Commander Andy Featherstone said officers are targeting criminals at every level, adding: 'We are dismantling networks from street thieves to international exporters.'
Impact on Phone Theft
Mobile phone theft has dropped by 13,000 offences compared to the previous year, but police say the crackdown is continuing. The three men appeared at Southwark Crown Court and pleaded guilty to handling stolen goods and involvement in an organised crime group. They will be sentenced on May 12.
