SmartWater: Message in a Bottle

ILLUSTRATION FOR TIME BY MARK MATCHO

Like a latter-day Fagin, east Londoner Ali Lwanga was always careful to keep a distance from his crimes. For a series of cashbox heists across the capital, Lwanga hired and coached children, some as young as 14, to rush the security guards, grab the box and make their getaway, while he watched from a little way off. His haul was $200,000 in just a few months, and Lwanga thought his only problem was laundering the cash. In fact, the police were already on to him; they just couldn't prove it. Until, that is, he was picked up with banknotes and clothing...

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