Four have been found guilty of plotting to chuck drugs and mobile phones over the wall at Lewes Prison. Two admitted their roles early on, while a jury at Hove Crown Court convicted the rest yesterday (Thursday 16 April). A fifth defendant escaped a verdict and now faces a potential retrial, Judge Roger Chapple revealed. Sentencing for the convicted trio—three men and one woman—is set for August.
Operation Culprit Cracks Down on Prison Smuggling
Sussex Police launched Operation Culprit after confiscating a haul of illegal packages hurled over Lewes Prison’s perimeter in 2023. One massive package alone held 19 mobile phones, 32 USB leads, and 5 earphones.
- Plain clothes and uniform patrols are deployed
- Joint ops with prison security and sniffer dogs
- Forensic tests on recovered packages
On 23 March 2023, officers stopped a white Audi linked to the parcel drops. Inside, they found bags packed with cannabis and mobile phones, ready to be tossed into the prison walls.
Key Players Busted and Charged
Jay Lindo, 31, and Chukwuemeka Anumnne, 30, both from London, were arrested for drug supply and conspiracy to smuggle prison contraband. Anumnne faced an additional knife charge but was cleared of that. Both denied charges initially but Lindo was later found guilty of all counts. Anumnne’s case remains open for retrial. On 6 April 2023, suspicious behaviour near the jail led officers to Jahmal Swaby, 27, who confessed to throwing packages over the wall. He pled guilty and awaits sentencing this summer.
Love Triangle Behind Bars Helps Police Crack Case
Forensic analysis of Swaby’s phone revealed text chats with a contact named “Zara” — identified as Fatimaalzhra ‘Zara’ Yousif, 23, who was dating inmate Yaanan Reid. Reid, serving time for drug supply, was linked to the smuggling ring through communications and financial transactions. Yousif’s DNA was found on numerous packages. Both were arrested in September 2023. Reid initially pleaded not guilty but switched to guilty midway through the trial on 31 March 2026. Yousif and Lindo were convicted alongside others in the plot.
Warning to Prison Smugglers
Judge Chapple will sentence the guilty quartet on 20 August 2026. Sussex Police say the targeted crackdown drastically reduced throw-ins at Lewes Prison.
“Throwing drugs and banned items into prison isn’t a victimless crime,” said Sergeant Dan Thomson. “Drugs fuel violence, mobile phones enable crime from behind bars, and these items endanger officers and undermine rehabilitation efforts.” “Our message is clear: if you throw parcels into prison, we will catch you, arrest you, and you will be jailed.”
Lewes Prison’s head of security, Karen Leak, praised the partnership with police in stopping these smuggling crimes. “We’re closing in on criminals trying to wreak havoc behind bars,” she said. “Our staff are committed to detecting and disrupting these illegal activities.”
