London Police Uncover Massive iPhone Smuggling Ring
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Smartphone theft has become a booming business in the UK — and police are fighting back. Police reported 80,000 stolen smartphones in 2024, with more than 80 percent of them being iPhones. Officials estimate these phones create a $65 million black market annually when resold to locations such as Algeria, China, and Hong Kong.
This summer, UK Members of Parliament and the Metropolitan Police held a hearing with Apple and Google during which they pressured the two companies to block access to cloud services for any smartphone reported stolen. A smartphone can be identified by its International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, a 15-digit serial number assigned to every mobile device. If these hot phones weren’t supported by Apple or Google, they would decline in value and, in turn, hopefully reduce theft. Apple and Google pushed back.
Recent reports indicate the Metropolitan Police have scored a major breakthrough in cracking down on smartphone theft. Last Christmas Eve, a London iPhone user tracked their stolen iPhone to a warehouse near Heathrow Airport.
At the warehouse, police found hundreds of iPhones destined for Hong Kong, sparking a larger investigation that uncovered an international smuggling gang responsible for approximately half of all stolen smartphones in London each year — around 40,000. After a further investigation and raids, police eventually recovered more than 2,000 devices and arrested 18 suspects.
According to the BBC, street thieves were paid up to £300 (~$400) per stolen phone. These same phones then fetch upwards of £4,000 (~$5,300) in China because they can be easily modified to evade China’s strict device registration and censorship systems.
“We’re hearing that some criminals are stopping dealing drugs and moving on to the phone business because it’s more lucrative,” Policing Minister Sarah Jones told the BBC. “If you steal a phone and it’s worth hundreds of pounds, you can understand why criminals who are one step ahead and want to exploit new crimes are turning to that world.”
Theft on this scale is certainly scary for locals, but police have managed to put a major dent in the operation. Investigations like this consume massive police resources — and raise a bigger question: Should Apple and Google make stolen phones completely unusable? Many in London would say yes.
