A gang dubbed “Deliveroo for prisons” was jailed for a combined 22 years in March 2026 after being convicted of using drones to smuggle drugs, mobile phones, and weapons into London jails — with investigators believing the group was responsible for around 75% of all drone drops into London prisons during their period of offending.

Who Was the Drone Gang?

The ringleader was Shafaghatullah Mohseni, 29, of Overbrook Walk, Edgware. He organised and directed the drone smuggling operation, playing a leading role in coordinating drops into multiple London prisons. Six other men assisted him: Hashim Al-Hussaini, 28; Mohammed Hamoud, 22; Faiz Salah, 29; Zahar Essaghi, 51; Mustafa Ibrahim, 30; and Emanuel Fisniku, 25. They variously acted as lookouts and drivers, received payments, and assisted in coordinating the contraband deliveries.

The gang operated a highly organised supply chain, with roles divided among members to reduce the risk of detection. Mohseni — described by police as grinning in a selfie taken with one of the drones used in the operation — ran the enterprise with a degree of confidence that belied the serious criminal consequences he ultimately faced.

How the Operation Worked

The gang used consumer drones to fly contraband over prison perimeter walls and into exercise yards and other areas accessible to prisoners. The contraband delivered included Class B drugs (primarily cannabis), mobile phones, SIM cards, phone chargers, and weapons. These items, once inside a prison, command significant black market premiums and fuel violence between inmates competing to control the supply.

Metropolitan Police investigators monitoring the gang identified over 50 separate drone drops in the three months between December 2024 and February 2025 alone. Officers believe the group was responsible for approximately 75% of all drone contraband drops into London prisons during the period they were active — a staggering dominance of an illicit market that has grown rapidly as drone technology has become cheaper and more accessible.

The “Deliveroo for prisons” nickname was coined by media covering the case, reflecting the gang’s systematic, delivery-service approach to supplying prisoners with ordered contraband on demand. For more information on what counts as contraband in UK prisons and the penalties for smuggling, see our guide on prison contraband.

Which Prisons Were Targeted?

The gang targeted a range of prisons across London and beyond, including some of the most high-profile establishments in the estate. Confirmed targets included HMP Wormwood Scrubs, HMP Brixton, HMP Pentonville, and HMP Wandsworth, as well as HMP Norwich, HMP Leicester, HMP Onley, and HMP Bedford. The breadth of the targeting demonstrates how drone smuggling is not confined to any single establishment but represents a systemic challenge across the prison estate.

The UK government has designated no-fly zones extending 400 metres around all closed prisons in England and Wales, making it a criminal offence to fly a drone within that boundary. However, determined criminal gangs continue to find ways to exploit the technology, and the problem remains one of the most significant security challenges facing the prison service today.

Investigation and Arrests

The Metropolitan Police’s specialist crime unit began investigating the drone drops after receiving intelligence in December 2024. Officers worked closely alongside the Prison Service to gather evidence and identify the individuals responsible. Surveillance and digital evidence linked the seven men to the operation. Mohseni’s selfie with one of the drones proved particularly damaging as evidence of his central involvement.

All seven men were charged with conspiracy to bring prohibited items into a prison, which under UK law carries a maximum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment per offence. The breadth of the conspiracy and the sustained nature of the offending — spanning dozens of confirmed drops across multiple establishments — made the case one of the most significant drone-smuggling prosecutions in England and Wales.

Sentences Handed Down

The gang was sentenced at Crown Court on 3 March 2026, receiving a combined total of 22 years’ imprisonment across all seven defendants. Ringleader Shafaghatullah Mohseni received the heaviest individual sentence of five years and three months, reflecting his leadership role and the scale of his criminal enterprise. The remaining six defendants received shorter sentences commensurate with their individual roles in the conspiracy.

The sentences send a clear message about the courts’ approach to drone contraband smuggling into prisons. The items delivered by this gang — drugs, phones, and weapons — directly fuel violence inside prisons, endangering both prisoners and staff and undermining the safety and rehabilitation environment that the prison service is intended to provide. For more on how the prison service is responding to drones, see our guide on government drone crackdown measures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the ringleader of the London prison drone gang jailed in 2026?

The ringleader of the drone gang was Shafaghatullah Mohseni, 29, of Overbrook Walk, Edgware, in north London. He was the organiser and director of the operation, coordinating drone drops of drugs, phones, and weapons into multiple London prisons. He received the heaviest sentence of five years and three months. Six other men assisted him and received sentences reflecting their individual roles.

What contraband was smuggled into London prisons using drones?

The drone gang smuggled Class B drugs (primarily cannabis), mobile phones, SIM cards, phone chargers, and weapons into London prisons. These items are highly valuable on the prison black market and fuel violence between prisoners competing to control their distribution. Drugs and mobile phones are among the most commonly seized contraband items in UK prisons and represent a significant ongoing security challenge.

Which London prisons did the drone gang target?

The gang targeted multiple prisons across London and beyond, including HMP Wormwood Scrubs, HMP Brixton, HMP Pentonville, HMP Wandsworth, HMP Norwich, HMP Leicester, HMP Onley, and HMP Bedford. Metropolitan Police investigators identified over 50 drone drops in just three months and believe the gang was responsible for approximately 75% of all drone drops into London prisons during that period.

How many years did the drone gang receive in total?

The seven members of the drone gang received a combined total of 22 years in custody, sentenced on 3 March 2026. The ringleader, Shafaghatullah Mohseni, received five years and three months. The remaining six defendants received shorter individual sentences based on their level of involvement as lookouts, drivers, and coordinators of the criminal enterprise.

Is it illegal to fly a drone near a UK prison?

Yes. It is a criminal offence to fly a drone within 400 metres of any closed prison or young offender institution in England and Wales. This no-fly zone was introduced by the UK government to combat the growing problem of contraband being smuggled into prisons by drone. Those who fly drones within this zone can face fines, and those caught smuggling contraband using drones risk imprisonment for up to ten years.