Find My iPhone Crackdown Busts UK Gang Smuggling 40,000 Phones to China

UK authorities recently dismantled a massive international smartphone smuggling ring responsible for exporting up to 40,000 stolen phones annually from London to China, with the crackdown initiated by a victim tracking their stolen iPhone using Apple's Find My feature. This led police to a warehouse near Heathrow Airport where nearly 900 stolen devices were found, eventually resulting in raids across 28 properties, the recovery of over 2,000 phones, and the arrest of 46 suspects. The criminal network operated like a global business, paying street thieves up to £300 per device while phones were sold for up to £4,000 in China, where Apple devices are prized for bypassing local censorship. Investigations revealed the ring accounted for approximately 40% of all stolen phones in London, with many criminals abandoning drug dealing to pursue phone theft due to its higher profitability. Police emphasized the need for manufacturers like Apple and Samsung to enhance device security to prevent repurposing of stolen phones. This case represents the largest crackdown on mobile phone theft and smuggling in the UK to date, showcasing the critical role of tracking technology in combating such crime.