Maranay used her bank account to launder nearly £50,000
A couple used drones to smuggle drugs and mobile phones into a Warwickshire jail.
Sajad Hashimi and his wife Zerka Maranay were responsible for over 100 drone drops into 11 jails and young offenders’ institutions.
At least 72 drops took place at HMP Onley, Rugby.
One video from a smuggling operation shows a drone hovering over a prison at night, lowering mobile phones on a fishing line.
Hashimi piloted his DJI Phantom 4 into prisons on 78 occasions between August 2022 and October 2023.
Maranay helped her husband by hiring at least 20 cars costing approximately £17,000.
The prisons targeted included Onley, The Mount, Maidstone, High Down, Guys Marsh, Garth, Wormwood Scrubs, Highpoint, Downview YOI, Brixton and Edinburgh.
Northampton Crown Court heard Maranay used her bank account to launder nearly £50,000, which her husband had received for piloting the drones.
Hashimi’s crimes came to light after he crashed his DJI Phantom 4 drone on the grounds of HMP Highpoint in Suffolk on July 4, 2023.
The drone had a fishing line and hooks, with a package containing heroin, steroids, chargers, tobacco, SIM cards and mobile phones, worth £19,500.
Data from the crashed drone confirmed it had been used for 62 flights on 34 flights and seven different prison sites between January 3 and June 3, 2023.
Despite crashing the drone, Hashimi bought another one and continued smuggling packages into prisons.
On August 17, 2023, Kent Police attended HMP Maidstone following reports of a drone flying over the prison.
A Nissan Qashqai, which had been hired by Maranay the previous day, was found by officers parked nearby.
Officers stopped Hashimi in the area and found he had the car’s key.
A search of the car revealed numerous drugs packages while a drone and controller were found hidden under a nearby van.
Hashimi was arrested and later bailed for being concerned in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs.
Data retrieved from a confiscated drone showed that it had been used for 38 flights over 34 dates at seven different prisons between June 15 and August 17.
Authorities intercepted multiple packages within prison perimeters, with the cannabis alone valued between £29,450 and £74,970.
When officers searched the couple’s home in Camden, London, on August 3, they found a drone along with cocaine and cannabis.
Hashimi admitted to conspiring to supply Class A and B drugs into prisons and conspiring to convey List B prohibited articles into prisons.
Maranay pleaded guilty to conspiring to convey prohibited articles into prisons and money laundering.
Detective Inspector Carrie Powers, of Northamptonshire Police’s Serious Organised Crime Team, said:
“This has been a very complex, detailed investigation and the largest of its kind for our Force and I would like to express my personal thanks to the team for their hard work.”
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.”
Hashimi was jailed for six years while his wife was imprisoned for 15 months.
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