Overview

• The Feiyang Times building in Shenzhen's Huaqiangbei district has been identified as a central hub in the global trade of stolen iPhones, mixing legitimate trade-ins with illicit devices.
• Stolen iPhones are transported from Western cities like London and New York through repair shops and Hong Kong intermediaries before reaching Shenzhen.
• Hong Kong's free trade port status and lack of electronics tariffs enable the seamless movement of stolen devices into mainland China.
• Locked iPhones retain value as they are stripped for parts or sold internationally, while victims often receive coercive messages urging them to disable security features.
• London law enforcement estimates phone theft generates £50 million annually, highlighting the scale of the issue and the challenges in dismantling the supply chain.