"Police have disrupted an international network suspected of smuggling tens of thousands of stolen phones from the UK in its largest operation to tackle phone theft in London, the Metropolitan police said. The criminal organisation is believed to have smuggled up to 40,000 stolen phones from the UK to China over the past 12 months up to 40% of all phones stolen in the capital, the Met said on Monday."
"The force launched Operation Echosteep in December 2024 after a box containing about 1,000 iPhones being shipped to Hong Kong was found at a warehouse near Heathrow airport. Officers discovered almost all the phones had been stolen, police said. They intercepted further shipments and used forensic evidence found on the packages to identify the suspects. A man was charged with handling stolen goods after being stopped with 10 suspected stolen phones at Heathrow on 20 September, the force added."
An international criminal organisation smuggled up to 40,000 stolen phones from the UK to China over 12 months, representing up to 40% of phones stolen in London. Operation Echosteep began in December 2024 after a warehouse near Heathrow contained about 1,000 iPhones bound for Hong Kong, almost all stolen. Investigators intercepted further shipments and used forensic evidence from packages to identify suspects. Arrests included a man stopped at Heathrow with 10 suspected stolen phones, two men found with phones and about 2,000 devices at linked properties, and two men arrested after about 40,000 in cash was recovered from a phone shop. A total of 46 arrests were made over a two-week operation.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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