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Prison guard and gang jailed over contraband plot

Amy ClarkeLondon
Met Police A man's mugshot. He wears a white jumper with a pink top underneath. Met Police
Jason Thompson was a guard at HMP Isis during the smuggling plot

A gang has been jailed after teaming up with a corrupt prison officer to smuggle drugs, mobile phones and USB sticks into a south‑east London prison.

Jason Thompson, a guard at HMP Isis, was suspended by the Prison Service in February 2024, as the Metropolitan Police investigated.

Thompson, 34, was jailed for four years and six months at Snaresbrook Crown Court after admitting he acted as the link between the gang and inmates - five of whom have been jailed today.

Deputy governor at HMP Isis, Stephen Forde, said the vast majority of prison staff were "honest, professional and hardworking, and those who choose corruption put staff and prisoners at risk and damage public trust."

Eight men and Thompson are believed to have been responsible for 18 package drop‑offs between February and July 2024. Thompson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to convey List A articles into prison and misconduct in a public office.

The ringleader inside prison was Olusegan Shobanjo, 26, and his brother on the outside, 28-year-old Adedayo Shobanjo.

He and Andrew Opoku‑Edusei, 28, prepared an "industrial" number of USB sticks loaded with Xbox games, TV programmes and pornography for prisoners - with some produced to order. They also paid Thompson between £400 and £600 for each package smuggled in.

Inmates Prince Kunado Dwomoh and Nathan Adjei played a "significant role" in the conspiracy and were principally dealing cannabis.

Contraband was brought in via supervised visits arranged through the official prison booking system.

The gang used coded language and slang to avoid detection, as footage from inside the prison captured the exchanges, including a moment when Thompson, in a panic, discarded items in a staff toilet.

On 13 March 2024, officers intercepted a package containing cannabis resin before carrying out 11 simultaneous arrests across London.

Met Police A collage of eight men's mugshots who look directly at the camera solemnly. Met Police
Wato, Dwomoh, Olusegan Shobanjo, Hamilton, Adjei, Kaseb, Opoku-eduse and Adedayo Shobanjo

Gang members sentenced at Knaresborough Crown Court on 2 April:

  • Olusegan Shobanjo, 26, of Bristol Avenue, NW9, was jailed for five years for conspiracy to convey List A and List B articles into prison and facilitating the acquisition of criminal property
  • Rama Wato, 26, of Alpha Place, NW6, was sentenced to two years and 10 months for the same offences
  • Andrew Opoku Edusei, 28, of The Concourse, NW9, jailed for four years and six months for the same charges and the possession of ammunition
  • Prince Kunado Dwomoh, 27, of Kenley Avenue, NW9, was jailed for two years and eight months for conspiracy to convey List A articles into prison
  • Nathan Adjei, 26, of Lutterworth Road, Northampton, received two years and six months' imprisonment for the same offence

Earlier hearings:

  • Jacques Hamilton, 23, of Abborts Road, HA8, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment on 22 January after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convey List A articles into prison
  • Arian Kaseb, 21, of Charcot Road, NW9, was jailed on 23 January for 12 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to convey List B articles into prison

Awaiting sentencing:

  • Adedayo Shobanjo, 28, of Bristol Avenue, NW9, awaits sentencing after admitting conspiracy to convey List B articles into prison and facilitating the acquisition of criminal property

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