Five people in court accused of smuggling drugs and phones into Strangeways with drones

They deny smuggling drugs into HMP Manchester

HMP Manchester(Image: MEN Media)

Five people have appeared in court accused of a plot to smuggle drugs and phones into Strangeways prison with drones.

Daniel Yasin, 21, Afzal Takolia, 49, Evie Fox, 19, Adam Takolia, 27, and Georgina Marshall, 28, all from Bradford appeared at Bolton Crown Court and will go on trial next year over an alleged plot to smuggle items into HMP Manchester and HMP Maidstone between January and November 2022.

All five deny charges that they conspired to convey prohibited articles, namely controlled drugs, into HMP Manchester, also known as Strangeways prison, and HMP Maidstone. They also deny a charge that transferred criminal property, namely cash.

Afzal Takolia, Ms Fox, Adam Takolia and Ms Marshall also deny a charge that smuggled phones and accessories into the two prisons. Mr Yasin has pleaded guilty to a charge that he smuggled phones into the prisons.

Daniel Yasin, of Killinghall Road, Afzal Takolia, of Leeds Road, Evie Fox, of Merchants Court, Adam Takolia, Wharncliffe Drive, Georgina Marshall, of Wharncliffe Drive, all Bradford in west Yorkshire, appeared at Bolton Crown Court on Monday morning (January 12, 2026).

Judge Abigail Hudson remanded Adam Takiola in custody and the other four defendants were released on bail ahead of a trial scheduled to begin on May 24 next year.

The charges following an investigation by the Regional Organised Crime Unit into the use of drones to smuggle illicit items into jails.