UK police have busted an international gang suspected of smuggling up to 40,000 stolen phones to China. The operation, the largest ever against phone thefts in the UK, led to 18 arrests and the recovery of over 2,000 devices. The investigation began when a victim traced a stolen iPhone to a warehouse near Heathrow. Afghan and Indian nationals were charged, and raids uncovered devices wrapped in foil for smuggling. London accounts for three-quarters of UK phone thefts, driven by rising demand for second-hand devices, especially Apple products, which fetch up to £4,000 overseas.
One iPhone Leads Police to Gang Smuggling 40,000 Stolen UK Phones to China
Police have dismantled an international gang suspected of smuggling up to 40,000 stolen mobile phones from the UK to China over the past year.
The Metropolitan Police described the operation as the largest-ever crackdown on phone thefts in the UK, with 18 suspects arrested and more than 2,000 stolen devices recovered. Authorities believe the gang could account for exporting up to half of all phones stolen in London, the main hub for mobile theft in the country.
BBC News was granted access to the investigation, including details about the suspects, their methods, and raids on 28 properties across London and Hertfordshire.
The case began when a victim tracked a stolen iPhone last year.
It was actually on Christmas Eve when a victim electronically traced their stolen phone to a warehouse near Heathrow Airport," said Detective Inspector Mark Gavin.
"Security there assisted, and they discovered the iPhone inside a box alongside 894 other phones."
Almost all the recovered devices were stolen and destined for Hong Kong. Forensic analysis of subsequent shipments helped police identify two main suspects.
During the investigation, bodycam footage captured officers conducting a dramatic roadside interception of a car, some with Tasers drawn. Inside, stolen phones were wrapped in foil to avoid detection.
The two men, both Afghan nationals in their 30s, were charged with conspiring to receive stolen goods and conspiring to conceal or remove criminal property. Officers found dozens of phones in their vehicle, and roughly 2,000 more devices were seized from properties linked to them. A third suspect, a 29-year-old Indian national, has since faced similar charges.
Det Insp Gavin said, "Discovering the original shipment of phones was the starting point for an investigation that uncovered an international smuggling gang, which could be responsible for exporting up to 40% of all phones stolen in London."
Last week, authorities arrested 15 additional suspects on suspicion of theft, handling stolen goods, and conspiracy. Most were women, including a Bulgarian national, and early morning raids recovered around 30 devices.
Phone theft in London has almost tripled over the past four years, rising from 28,609 in 2020 to 80,588 in 2024. The capital accounts for three-quarters of all UK phone thefts, fueled by the high number of tourists visiting hotspots like the West End and Westminster.
According to the Office for National Statistics, “theft from the person” rose 15% across England and Wales in the year ending March 2025, reaching its highest level since 2003.
Authorities attribute the increase in part to rising demand for second-hand phones, both domestically and abroad. Many victims never recover their devices.
"Some criminals are abandoning drugs for the phone business because it’s more lucrative," said Policing Minister Sarah Jones.
"A stolen phone worth hundreds of pounds is an attractive target for those looking for easy profits."
Senior officers said the gang specifically targeted Apple products due to their high resale value overseas. The investigation revealed street thieves were being paid up to £300 per handset, with stolen devices sold in China for up to £4,000 each, especially because internet-enabled phones are valuable for bypassing censorship.
Met Police Lead Calls UK’s Largest Crackdown on Phone Theft
Commander Andrew Featherstone, head of the Met’s phone theft unit, described the operation as the largest crackdown on mobile phone theft and robbery in UK history.
“We’ve dismantled criminal networks at every level—from street thieves to international organised crime groups exporting tens of thousands of stolen devices annually,” Featherstone said.
Phone theft victims have frequently criticised the police, including the Met, for inadequate responses. Common complaints include officers not acting even when victims report the real-time location of stolen phones via Apple’s Find My iPhone or similar tracking services.
Last year, 29-year-old Natalie Mitchel had her phone stolen on Oxford Street, central London. Speaking to Your Voice, Your BBC News, she said the experience left her uneasy while visiting the capital.
“It’s really unnerving being here. I don’t know who’s around me. I worry about my bag, my phone,” she said.
Mitchel added: “The Met Police should do more, possibly set up extra CCTV or undercover officers to tackle this issue. I think the number of cases overwhelms their resources and capacity.”
The Metropolitan Police, which has recently posted videos on TikTok and other social media showing officers tackling phone snatchers, reported that personal robbery has fallen by 13% and theft by 14% in London so far this year. Up to 80 additional officers are being assigned to the West End team to focus on crimes like phone robbery.
Despite this, the force faces a £260m budget shortfall over the next year, requiring the loss of nearly 2,000 officers and cuts to some services.
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said the Met is boosting visible neighbourhood policing and deploying special operations in hotspot areas like Westminster and the West End, leading to hundreds of arrests and thousands of devices seized.
Criticising the ease of reselling stolen phones, Khan added: “I will continue urging the mobile phone industry to act faster in making stolen devices unusable. We need coordinated global action to shut down this trade and make London safer for everyone.”