Three men jailed after admitting role in £5 million stolen phone smuggling network

Three men who were part of the United Kingdom’s largest ever illegal phone smuggling network have been jailed to a total of 25 years combined.

Amir Khadikhel, 35, Ismat Miakhel, 33, and Mansoor Mohammed, 30, had earlier pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive stolen goods, conspiring to transfer stolen goods and participation in activities of an organised crime group.

They were sentenced to nine and half years, nine years, and six and a half years imprisonment, respectively, at Southwark Crown Court today.

In total, it is believed the men helped export 40,000 stolen mobile phones form the UK to China between 2024 and 2025. Estimates suggest this was almost half of all phones stolen in London during this time period. 

The group’s operation was first uncovered in January 2025 after a shipment at Heathrow Airport bound for Hong Kong was found to contain nine boxes filled with mobile phones wrapped in tin foil. In total, 865 devices from this first shipment were recovered.

Forensic evidence then linked Khadikhel’s and Miakhel’s DNA to the tinfoil, and a Metropolitan Police began a surveillance operation over several months to uncover the full scale of the offending. This also identified Mohammed, who was observed supplying bags of stolen phones to the two other men.

Most of the stolen phones were iPhones and the total value of phones seized by the police across their investigation totalled more than £5million.

Saira Pike of the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Phone theft is more than just a financial loss as it involves victims losing personal data, precious pictures or memories and their sense of security.

“Amir Khadikhel, Ismat Miakhel and Mansoor Mohammed were at the heart of a sophisticated organised crime operation that profited from the misery of victims who had their mobile phones stolen across London.

“We worked closely with the Metropolitan Police to build a strong case and the sheer strength of the evidence meant the defendants ultimately accepted their roles and pleaded guilty shortly before trial.

“This successful prosecution demonstrates that the Crown Prosecution Service will always work closely with our partners to dismantle organised crime and bring those responsible to justice.”