UK police crack down on global phone theft trade
The Metropolitan Police have announced a major crackdown following a months-long investigation into a criminal network suspected of smuggling up to 40,000 stolen mobile devices from the United Kingdom to China. In a carefully coordinated operation, 46 people were arrested over two weeks as detectives disrupted the group’s activity and recovered thousands of devices.
How the investigation began
The inquiry, which began last December, was sparked after a box bound for Hong Kong was intercepted at a warehouse near Heathrow Airport. Inside were around 1,000 iPhones, with investigators quickly confirming that most of the devices had been stolen. The discovery prompted the launch of Operation Echosteep, bringing in specialist detectives to map the network and track shipments as they moved through various points in the supply chain.
Key discoveries and arrests
Following the initial breakthrough, officers intercepted further shipments and used forensic evidence to identify two men in their 30s who were later charged with handling stolen goods. They were remanded in custody. Across the operation, a significant number of phones were recovered: some found in the men’s car, and around 2,000 additional devices uncovered at properties linked to them.
What investigators found about the operation
Detective Inspector Mark Gavin, the senior investigating officer for Operation Echosteep, explained that the group specifically targeted Apple products due to their international profitability.
