Gang smuggled drugs and phones into prisons at least 70 times
Norwich was among nine prisons targeted last year
Last updated 3rd Mar 2026
Seven men have admitted their involvement in smuggling drugs, phones, SIM cards, and a knife into prisons across London and the South East using drones.
The conspirators are being sentenced at Harrow Crown Court, after pleading guilty to their roles in the organised enterprise.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the operation was responsible for 75% of all drone drops into London prisons between 2nd December 2024 and 26th February 2025.
The gang included Shafaghatullah Mohseni, 29, Hashim Al-Hussaini, 28, Mohammed Hamoud, 22, Faiz Salah, 29, Zahar Essaghi, 51, Mustafa Ibrahim, 30, and Emanuel Fisniku, 25.
Mohseni, described as the "grand delivery driver," played a leadership role, with close relatives of prisoners sending him large sums of money as payment for items delivered.
The gang targeted at least nine prisons, including Wormwood Scrubs, Brixton, Pentonville, Wandsworth, Norwich, and Leicester.
They travelled by car to prison locations, often opting for early morning hours, to fly packages filled with contraband through cell windows.
Police arrested Mohseni, Al-Hussaini, Hamoud, and Fisniku on 26th February 2025 during a planned drop at HMP Norwich after receiving a tip-off about the smuggling operation.
Their vehicle contained a JD sports bag with a drone, two packages containing phones and cannabis, and a knife.
Operation Buzzbin
Operation Buzzbin, conducted by the Metropolitan Police's Specialist Crime Command, revealed 70 distinct drone visits made to prisons within an 86-day period.
The prosecution accepted that conspirators "may not have been aware" that a flick knife was conveyed on one flight but noted the knife's presence on another.
Most of the operations involved multiple drone flights, estimating that roughly 140 flights occurred in total.
Cannabis, Xanax, and Valium were among the smuggled items, although initial accusations of cocaine smuggling were later dropped.
Police recovered a drone after it crash-landed into a woman's backyard near HMP Wandsworth.
The woman told officers that someone had attempted to retrieve the drone early in the morning but was refused entry.
Mohseni attempted to justify his actions as a means to settle debts, with his defence detailing his financial struggles.
In July 2024, chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor highlighted the growing threat posed by drone smuggling in prisons.
Taylor urged better technological and intelligence measures to reduce the risk, commenting on the potential of more severe incidents occurring if drones continue to be exploited for smuggling.