Three jailed over 40,000 stolen phones linked to 40% of London thefts

A gang behind the UK’s largest mobile smuggling network, which trafficked up to 40,000 stolen phones to China, has been jailed.

The three men behind the operation were responsible for trafficking around 40% of all stolen phones from London to China in 2024 and 2025.

Amir Muhammad Khadikhel, 35, Ismat Miakhel, 33, and Mansoor Mohammed, 30, were jailed for a combined total of 25 years at Southwark Crown Court.

In December 2024, a box containing around one thousand iPhones being shipped to Hong Kong was found at a warehouse near Heathrow Airport.

Officers discovered almost all of the phones had been stolen, sparking the launch of Operation Echosteep.

Specialist detectives intercepted shipments and used forensics found on the packages until they were able to identify Khadikhel, ofWanstead, and Miakhel, 33, of Walthamstow.

On September 23, 2025, officers arrested both men in north-east London on suspicion of handling stolen goods. They were charged and remanded in custody.

Several hundred phones were recovered from their car, with a further 2,000 devices seized from properties linked to the men.

The investigation also identified Mohammed, of Wood Green, as being involved, and he was subsequently arrested and charged.

The case forms part of the Met’s largest-ever operation targeting mobile phone theft.

Commander Andy Featherstone, the Met’s lead for tackling mobile phone theft, said: ‘Today’s sentences send a clear message: if you steal phones, we’ll come after you.

‘This result is down to the relentless work of our officers, who painstakingly pieced together the evidence, tracked this criminal gang’s activity and built the case that has brought these men to justice.

‘We’ve already cut phone theft by a fifth this year, meaning thousands fewer victims. London is becoming even safer, but we’re not slowing down. We’ll keep targeting the thieves, handlers and exporters driving this crime.’

The men pleaded guilty. Khadikhel was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years after being convicted of conspiracy to receive stolen mobile phones, conspiracy to transfer/export stolen mobile phones and participating in the activities of an organized crime group.

Miakhel was sentenced to nine years after being convicted of conspiracy to receive stolen mobile phones, conspiracy to transfer/export stolen mobile phones and participating in the activities of an organized crime group.

Mansoor Mohammed was sentenced to six-and-a-half years and convicted of conspiracy to receive stolen mobile phones and participating in the activities of an organized crime group

Met Police officers have been using drones, high-powered e-bikes, live facial recognition, and specialist teams to target hotspots across London where phone thieves are known to operate.

They report that in Westminster, one of the capital’s busiest tourist hotspots, phone theft and robbery offenses have now fallen by almost 50 per cent.

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