The Metropolitan Police have disrupted a major international network suspected of smuggling tens of thousands of stolen phones from London to China, officials said. The crackdown, described as the largest of its kind in the UK, follows months of investigation into organized theft and illegal exports.
Authorities estimate the criminal organization moved up to 40,000 stolen phones abroad over the past 12 months, representing nearly 40% of all mobile thefts in the capital. The network targeted high-value devices, particularly Apple products, which can sell for thousands overseas.
The investigation, named Operation Echosteep, began in December 2024 when officers discovered a shipment of about 1,000 iPhones destined for Hong Kong at a warehouse near Heathrow Airport. Forensic evidence from the packages helped police identify suspects and trace further shipments.
A man was charged with handling stolen goods after being stopped at Heathrow on 20 September with 10 suspected stolen phones. Police also recovered two iPads, two laptops, and two Rolex watches during the arrest. Investigators found the same individual had travelled between London and Algeria more than 200 times over two years.
Three days later, two men in their 30s were arrested in northeast London on suspicion of handling stolen goods. Police discovered phones in their car and around 2,000 devices at properties linked to the suspects. They were charged and remanded in custody.
On 25 September, two more men in their 30s were arrested for money laundering and handling stolen goods after officers recovered approximately £40,000 in cash from a phone shop in Islington, north London. Police also seized additional stolen devices. These suspects were later released on bail pending further inquiries.
In total, 46 arrests were made over a two-week period, including 11 targeting gangs robbing delivery vans carrying the new iPhone 17. An additional 15 people were arrested for theft, handling stolen goods, and conspiracy to steal. Searches across 28 properties in London and Hertfordshire recovered over 30 suspected devices.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan praised the Met Police for tackling the issue. He highlighted a 13% drop in robberies and a 14% decrease in thefts so far this year. Khan urged the mobile phone industry to take stronger action to prevent stolen devices from being reused or exported.
“Criminals profit millions by repurposing stolen phones, many of which still access cloud services. The industry must act faster to make stolen devices unusable,” Khan said. “Global cooperation is needed to shut down this trade and make London safer for all residents.”
Detective Inspector Mark Gavin, senior officer for Operation Echosteep, said the initial seizure of phones led to the discovery of an international smuggling network responsible for exporting nearly 40% of London’s stolen phones. He noted smugglers paid street thieves up to £300 per handset, while devices could sell for as much as $5,000 (£3,710) in China.
The crackdown comes amid rising global mobile phone thefts, with London reporting approximately 80,000 stolen devices last year. Commander Andrew Featherstone, the Met’s lead on phone theft operations, called Operation Echosteep the most extensive set of actions undertaken by the force to combat both street-level theft and large-scale smuggling.
Police say the operation demonstrates the scale and organization of international phone theft networks and underscores the need for continued collaboration between law enforcement agencies and technology companies. Officials plan to continue investigations and pursue further arrests to dismantle remaining elements of the smuggling network.
