Hampstead couple used drones in prison smuggling operation

The footage is taken from a drone hovering over a prison at night while lowering mobile phones on a fishing line. 

Husband and wife Sajad Hashimi and Zerka Maranay, of Compayne Gardens, South Hampstead, worked together to smuggle phones and drugs into 11 different prisons or young offender institutes (YOIs). 

An investigation was launched after a drone crashed onto the grounds of HMP Highpoint in Suffolk in July 2023.  

Fishing line and hooks were attached to the drone along with a package containing heroin, steroids, chargers, tobacco, SIM cards and mobile phones that had a combined prison value of up to £19,500.  

It was later discovered between August 2022 and October 2023, 27-year-old Hashimi made more than 100 drone incursions into Onley, The Mount, Maidstone, High Down, Guys Marsh, Garth, Wormwood Scrubs, Highpoint, Downview YOI, Brixton and Edinburgh prisons.  

His wife, 28-year-old Maranay, assisted Hashimi by hiring at least 20 cars that he used to travel to and from prisons and YOIs.  

The cars cost in the region of £17,000.  

She also used used her bank account to launder nearly £50,000, which her husband had been paid for piloting the drones and delivering the illegal contraband at a pre-arranged drop point within the grounds of each of the prisons.  

Sajad Hashimi (left) and Zerka Maranay (right), of South Hampstead, have been jailed for using drones to smuggle drugs and phones into prisons (Image: ROCU)A search warrant was executed at their South Hampstead home on August 3 last year.  

A drone and drugs were recovered and Hashimi was arrrested.  

Hashimi later pleaded guilty to conspiring to supply Class B drugs into prisons and conspiring to convey List B prohibited articles into prisons, as well as conspiring to supply Class A drugs.  

Maranay pleaded guilty to conspiring to convey List B prohibited articles into prisons and money laundering.  

On Monday (April 29) at Northamton Crown Court Hasimi was jailed for 73 months and was issued a five-year Serious Crime Prevention Order which will come into effect once he is released from prison.  

Maranay was given a 15 month prison sentence for her part in the enterprise.  

Prisons and Probation Minister Edward Argar added: “Our beefed-up anti-drone no-fly zones – along with drug detection dogs and airport-style security – are helping us lock up organised criminals and crack down on drugs behind bars.  
  
“This sentencing is a warning to those who think they won’t be caught. We will find you and ensure you face the full force of the law.”