Three men jailed for smuggling 40,000 stolen phones to China

Three men have been sentenced to a combined total of 25 years in prison for their roles in a major mobile phone smuggling network. Amir Muhammad Khadikhel, Ismat Miakhel, and Mansoor Mohammed were convicted following a year-long Metropolitan Police Service investigation into the trafficking of stolen smartphones.

Detectives determined the group was responsible for smuggling up to 40,000 stolen phones from the United Kingdom to China during 2024 and 2025. This volume is estimated to represent approximately 40% of all smartphones stolen in London during that two-year period.

The case was part of the Metropolitan Police Service’s largest operation targeting mobile phone theft, which uncovered a supply chain connecting London street thieves to international exporters. Commander Andy Featherstone stated that the sentences serve as a clear message to those involved in phone theft and noted that smartphone theft in London has already decreased by one-fifth this year.