The Metropolitan Police revealed that they dismantled an international network accused of smuggling tens of thousands of stolen mobile phones from London to China, after Apple’s “Find My iPhone” feature led to the first clue in the case.

The police stated in a press release that they arrested 18 suspects and found over two thousand stolen phones in a warehouse near Heathrow Airport, in what was described as the largest investigation in the UK’s history to combat phone theft.

Detective Inspector Mark Gavin explained that the investigation began after a victim tracked his stolen iPhone to the warehouse via the electronic tracking system, adding that security forces found the device inside a box containing 894 other phones that were en route to Hong Kong.

Gavin noted that evidence collected from the shipments helped identify two men behind the network, later revealed to be Afghan men in their thirties, who were charged with conspiracy to receive stolen goods and transport illegal property.

According to the police, the gang is believed to have been responsible for smuggling about 40% of stolen phones in London during the past year, while the number of thefts in the capital nearly doubled over the last four years—from 28,609 in 2020 to more than 80,000 in 2024.

The London Police confirmed that this case highlights the importance of the “Find My iPhone” feature in helping authorities track and recover stolen devices, noting that victims’ cooperation and effective use of security technologies were crucial factors in the success of the operation.