A prison officer who accepted cash payments to help a north London organised crime group smuggle contraband into a south-east London jail has been sentenced alongside seven gang members, with the group receiving a combined total of 25 years in prison following a Metropolitan Police investigation.
Jason Thompson, 34, of Stanley Close, SE9, worked as a guard at HMP Isis and acted as the link between the gang and the prison, earning between £400 and £600 per package he helped bring in. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convey List A articles into prison and misconduct in a public office, and was sentenced to four years and six months at Snaresbrook Crown Court in February.
The gang he worked with was directed by Olusegan Shobanjo, 26, of Bristol Avenue, NW9, who coordinated the ordering, delivery and distribution of prohibited items into the prison and was sentenced to five years on Thursday, 2 April. His brother Adedayo Shobanjo, 28, of the same address, served as a key organiser outside the prison walls, preparing packages, paying couriers and overseeing a bank account that received more than £50,000 from 103 individuals connected to prisoners. He is due to be sentenced on 7 April.
The contraband being smuggled included cannabis resin, vape oil, mobile phones and USB sticks loaded with entertainment and pornographic material. Between February and July 2024, the group carried out an estimated 18 package drop-offs, using the prison’s supervised visit booking system to transfer goods inside during scheduled appointments.
The Metropolitan Police’s specialist crime unit began its investigation in February 2024 after the Prison Service flagged Thompson’s suspension. Officers reviewed more than 800 hours of CCTV and phone material and found the group had been communicating in coded, unheard slang and deliberately disposing of devices to avoid detection. The operation concluded when officers intercepted a package containing cannabis resin on 13 March 2024, before carrying out 11 simultaneous arrests across London. Class A drugs and ammunition were recovered at some of the addresses searched.
Among those also sentenced were Andrew Opoku-Edusei, 28, who sourced items and prepared USB devices and received four years and six months; Rama Wato, 26, the main courier who was paid at least £2,300 for repeated smuggling runs and received two years and ten months; Jacques Hamilton, 23, who was arrested passing a package containing nearly 80 grams of cannabis resin and received two years; and Arian Kaseb, 21, who was sentenced to 12 months after making unsuccessful smuggling attempts including packages containing up to 30 USB devices.
Two serving prisoners were also convicted for their roles inside the jail. Prince Kunado-Dwomoh, 27, who helped source and distribute drugs within HMP Isis and continued supporting the conspiracy after his release, received two years and eight months. Nathan Adjei, 26, who assisted with distribution once items entered the prison, was sentenced to two years and six months.
Detective Inspector John Cowell, who led the investigation, said the gang had believed they could outsmart both the police and prison authorities, but that officers had identified the conspiracy early and built a case that brought them to justice. The Deputy Governor of HMP Isis, Stephen Forde, described the sentences as a clear signal of how seriously the courts view corruption by those in positions of authority, and paid tribute to prison staff whose work had helped bring the case to court.
Sentencing for Adedayo Shobanjo remains scheduled for Tuesday, 7 April at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
