A seven-man gang dubbed the “Deliveroo for prisons” has been jailed for a combined 22 years after using drones to smuggle drugs, mobile phones and weapons into London prisons. The group, led by Shafaghatullah Mohseni of Edgware, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on 3 March 2026 following a swift Metropolitan Police investigation that saw them arrested, charged and remanded in just three months. Officers believe the gang was responsible for the majority of drone drops into prisons across London during their period of offending.

Who Was Involved in the Drone Gang?

The seven men convicted were mostly from the Harrow and north-west London area. Shafaghatullah Mohseni, 29, of Overbrook Walk, Edgware, was identified as the ringleader and received the longest individual sentence. The other members were Mohammed Hamoud, 22, of Streatfield Road, Kenton; Faiz Salah, 29, of NW9; Zahar Essaghi, 51, of NW9; Mustafa Ibrahim, 30, of College Hill Road, Harrow Weald; Emanuel Fisniku, 25, of Highbury Stadium Square, Islington; and Hashin Al-Hussaini, 28, of Streatfield Road, Kenton.

At 51, Essaghi was the oldest member of the group by some margin. The gang ranged in age from 22 to 51, and their connections to the NW9 and Kenton postcodes suggested a tight-knit local network with ties to existing criminal infrastructure. The gang member who took a selfie grinning with the drone used in drops became an emblematic image of their brazenness.

How Did the Drone Drops Work?

The gang operated what investigators described as a contraband delivery service for London prisons. Drones were loaded with packages containing drugs, mobile phones, and on occasion weapons, and then flown over prison walls under the cover of darkness to land in exercise yards or near the windows of cells. The method allows contraband to bypass the security searches that would intercept goods smuggled in via visitors or post.

The scale and frequency of the drops was significant. The Metropolitan Police assessed that this single gang was responsible for the majority of all drone drops made into prisons across London during the period they were actively operating. ITV News described their operation as “Deliveroo for prisons” — a reference to the food delivery model of running regular, on-demand contraband deliveries to order. The contraband they brought in, particularly drugs and mobile phones, fuels violence inside prisons and undermines security efforts by staff.

The Metropolitan Police Investigation

Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s specialist crime unit began investigating drone drops into London prisons after receiving intelligence in December 2025. They worked closely with the Prison Service throughout the investigation to build evidence and identify those responsible. The operation moved quickly: within three months of receiving initial intelligence, all seven members of the gang had been arrested, charged, and remanded in custody awaiting trial.

The speed of the investigation was notable. Three months from intelligence receipt to remand in custody is an unusually fast turnaround in complex organised crime cases, and reflects both the quality of the intelligence received and the co-operation between the Met and prison authorities.

The Sentences

All seven men were sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on 3 March 2026. The leader, Mohseni, received five years and three months for his leading role in the conspiracy. The remaining six members received sentences ranging from two years and three months to two years and nine months each. The combined total across all seven defendants was 22 years imprisonment. All have been placed on relevant offender registers and are subject to conditions upon eventual release.

For more information on how contraband enters UK prisons and what happens to those caught bringing it in, you can read our guides on general prison information and how prison visits are managed. Those concerned about the welfare of someone in custody may also find our guide on sending money to a prisoner useful.

Drone Drops: A Growing Threat to UK Prisons

The use of drones to smuggle contraband into prisons has grown significantly in the UK over the past decade. HMPPS (His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service) has invested in counter-drone technology including detection equipment and signal jamming systems deployed at higher-risk establishments. However, the technology race between authorities and those seeking to exploit drone delivery continues, and incidents at prisons across England and Wales are regularly reported. The Mohseni gang case is one of the largest London-based prosecutions for prison drone drops to date, and the Met’s investigation serves as a deterrent to others operating or considering similar schemes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who led the London prison drone gang?

The gang was led by Shafaghatullah Mohseni, 29, of Overbrook Walk, Edgware, north-west London. He received the longest sentence of five years and three months for his leading role in organising the drone drop operation into London prisons.

How many men were jailed in the London prison drone gang case?

Seven men were jailed in total. They were sentenced at Harrow Crown Court on 3 March 2026 to a combined total of 22 years imprisonment. The ringleader received five years and three months; the remaining six members each received sentences of between two years and three months and two years and nine months.

What was smuggled into London prisons by the drone gang?

The gang used drones to smuggle drugs, mobile phones and weapons into prisons across London. The Metropolitan Police stated that the contraband brought in by the group fuelled violence inside prisons and posed a serious risk to the safety of both staff and other prisoners.

How were the prison drone gang caught?

The Metropolitan Police specialist crime unit received intelligence in December 2025 and began working closely with the Prison Service to build evidence and identify the gang. Within three months, all seven members had been arrested, charged, and remanded in custody. The investigation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led policing and close collaboration between police and prison authorities.

Are drone drops into UK prisons a common problem?

Yes. Drone drops into UK prisons have become an increasingly serious issue over recent years. HMPPS has deployed counter-drone technology at a number of establishments, but the practice continues. The Mohseni gang case is one of the largest prosecutions for London prison drone drops and was highlighted by the Metropolitan Police as a significant disruption to organised criminal activity targeting the prison estate.