Drone gang behind majority of London prison drops jailed

A gang that used drones to smuggle drugs and mobile phones into prisons have been sentenced to a combined 22 years imprisonment, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police.

The group was so prolific officers believe they were responsible for the majority of drone drops in prisons across London in the time they were offending, bringing in contraband that fuels violence and puts the safety of staff and other prisoners at risk.

Officers from the Met’s specialist crime unit began investigating drone drops after receiving intelligence in December 2025. They then worked closely alongside the Prison Service to build evidence and identify the gang responsible. Within three months they were arrested, charged and remanded.

The investigating team used tactics including surveillance outside prisons, analysis of phone data that showed the suspects in the vicinity of prisons and downloaded the flight data of drones that had been found in or around prisons.

Ultimately, this led to them identifying the seven-person team of drone pilots, co-pilots and taxi drivers as well as lookouts. They thought they were successfully evading the police by regularly changing drivers and operating in the middle of the night.

However, they were being closely monitored by specialist crime officers who identified over 50 drone drops in the three months they were monitoring them.

Officers decided to take action and intercept the gang after they established prohibited items were being smuggled into prisons using the drones, significantly increasing the threat posed.

The suspects were covertly pursued by officers and in the early hours of 26 February 2025, four men were arrested less than a mile from HMP Norwich. When searching their car officers found a knife, a drone and cannabis.

Detective Inspector John Cowell, who led the investigation, said:

“This highly organised gang thought they were outsmarting the police and prison authorities. What they didn’t know is they were subject to sustained specialist surveillance by Met officers, who identified those responsible and brought them to justice.

“We will continue to work closely with the Prison Service to tackle the gangs who bring violence and drugs to our prisons. Criminals should be under no illusion we will use every tool available to us to put them behind bars.”

Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending Lord Timpson, said:

“We are closing in on the criminals who think they can exploit our prisons from the sky. Anyone trying to smuggle drugs, weapons or phones into jail using drones should be in no doubt — we will track you down, we will catch you, and you will face the full force of the law.

“I pay tribute to our diligent prison service staff and policing partners for their relentless work in smashing this operation and bringing those responsible to justice.”

The gang targeted prisons including Wormwood Scrubs, Brixton, Pentonville, Wandsworth, Norwich, Leicester, Onley and Bedford.

Packages smuggled in included class B drugs, mobile phones, chargers, and SIM cards.

The group all pleaded guilty at earlier hearings to:

• Conspiracy to Convey List A Articles into Prison
• Conspiracy to Convey List B Articles into Prisons
• Conspiracy to Supply Controlled Drugs of Class B
• Conspiracy to Supply Controlled Drugs of Class C

They were sentenced today on Tuesday, 3 March at Harrow Crown Court to:

• Shafaghatullah Mohseni, 29 (04.05.1996) of Overbrook Walk, Edgware was sentenced to five years and three months' imprisonment, for playing a leading role.
• Hashin Al-Hussaini, 28 (15.01.1998) Streatfield Road, Kenton sentenced to two years and nine months' imprisonment.
• Mohammed Hamoud, 22 (03.05.2003) of Streatfield Road, Kenton sentenced to two years and nine months' imprisonment
• Faiz Salah, 29 (27.01.1997) of Prodger, NW9 sentenced to two years and seven months' imprisonment.
• Zahar Essaghi, 51 (03.03.1974) of Martynside, NW9 sentenced to two years and nine months' imprisonment.
• Mustafa Ibrahim, 30 (30.05.1995) of College Hill Road, Harrow Weald sentenced to two years and six months' imprisonment.
• Emanuel Fisniku, 25 (06.01.2001) of Highbury Stadium Square, Islington sentenced to two years and three months' imprisonment.