An escaped inmate, Mahad Elmi, is being sought by Thames Valley Police after he absconded from HMP Springhill on Christmas Day. Elmi, 27, was convicted for orchestrating a county lines drug operation and sentenced to eight years in 2019 alongside his brother, Amin, for distributing heroin and crack cocaine in Cardiff. The duo used laminated business cards to manage their illegal activities.
Authorities found that the brothers were exploiting a 17-year-old to facilitate their drug supply across the city. During a police raid in the Roath area, the teenager was caught with over 50 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine valued at around £1,000. The Cardiff police’s organized crime unit intervened after receiving intel about a London-based gang taking over the residence for drug trafficking.
The siblings and the underage accomplice were apprehended during the operation, where cash, phones, drug-related items, and cannabis were seized. Mahad Elmi, 20, pleaded guilty while Amin Elmi, 19, was convicted after a trial at Swansea Crown Court, resulting in sentences of eight years and six years respectively.
In the past year leading up to March 2025, 57 prisoners have escaped from prisons in England and Wales, showcasing a decline from 2020 when 143 inmates absconded. Descriptions provided by Thames Valley Police describe Elmi as a black man, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, of medium build with medium-length black hair, a beard, and brown eyes, emphasizing his ties to southwest London.
Detective Sergeant Matthew French from Buckinghamshire’s Priority Crime Team urged the public to assist in locating Elmi, advising against approaching him and instead calling emergency services if spotted. Anyone with information on Elmi’s whereabouts is urged to contact the authorities via phone or online, quoting the reference number provided.