Notorious London Gangster 'The General' Jailed Again as Deportation Efforts Fail
Serial offender Joland Giwa, a 36-year-old gangster infamously dubbed 'The General', has been sentenced to three years and 11 months in prison after being caught with a substantial haul of drugs valued at approximately £17,000. This latest conviction marks another chapter in a long history of criminal activity and highlights the persistent failures of the Home Office to deport him, despite repeated attempts spanning 17 years.
A Life of Crime from Croydon to Wales
Giwa arrived in the United Kingdom at the age of ten, landing at Heathrow Airport in 1999 without any parent, guardian, or documentation. He grew up terrorising the streets of Croydon as a key member of the 'Don't Say Nothing' gang, commonly abbreviated as 'DSN'. His notoriety was further amplified when he boasted on YouTube about his criminal exploits, including using slang terms like 'shanking' to describe stabbing his rivals.
His first imprisonment occurred in 2009 for a series of offenses, after which he was relocated to Newport, South Wales, in an attempt to sever his criminal connections with London. However, this move failed to steer him away from illegal activities. In 2015, he was convicted for a terrifying robbery at a William Hill bookmakers branch in Ringland, Newport, receiving a sentence of seven and a half years.
Failed Deportation and Legal Struggles
The UK government has made numerous efforts to deport Giwa, who is believed to originate from either Nigeria or Sierra Leone. These attempts have been consistently blocked since 2009, as neither country has been willing to accept him. Sierra Leone has denied any ties to Giwa, while Nigeria has also refused to take him in. This stalemate has persisted for 17 years, preventing his removal from the country.
Giwa was initially granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK in 2005, but this status was revoked following his first conviction, triggering the deportation process. His barrister, Hashim Salmman, highlighted that Giwa, now a father of four, has faced significant challenges, including cultural barriers since moving to the UK. He lacks indefinite leave to remain, rendering him unable to work or claim state benefits, and he tragically lost an infant son while in custody.
Latest Offenses and Court Proceedings
In the most recent case, police followed Giwa's car to his home in Risca, South Wales, where they discovered a rucksack containing a significant quantity of class A drugs. Prosecutor Nigel Fryer detailed that officers seized 126 grams of crack cocaine worth £13,500, 16.45 grams of heroin valued at £1,645, and 7.85 grams of cocaine priced at £700, along with £2,040 in cash.
Giwa pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply crack cocaine, heroin, and cocaine, possession of criminal property, and breaching a suspended sentence. Cardiff Crown Court heard that he has nine previous convictions for 16 offenses, underscoring his status as a serial offender.
Political Outrage and Home Office Response
The decision to house Giwa in Wales sparked outrage among local politicians, who accused authorities of 'dumping' him in Newport without proper consultation. The late former Labour MP Paul Flynn expressed concern at the time, noting that Newport has a proud tradition of assimilating immigrants but warned that excessive pressures could arise from uneven distribution across the country.
A Home Office spokesperson stated, 'We are reforming human rights laws and replacing the broken appeals system to scale up deportations and stop foreign criminals and illegal migrants from gaming the system. All foreign national offenders who receive a prison sentence in the UK are referred for deportation at the earliest opportunity.' This response highlights ongoing efforts to address systemic issues in deportation processes.
Continued Criminal Activity and Future Implications
Despite attempts at rehabilitation, Giwa's criminal behavior persisted. After being released from his robbery term, he was jailed again in April 2020 for four years and one month after pleading guilty to trafficking drugs in Newport. He was caught selling drugs at a children's play park, arriving on an electric scooter to conduct the deal.
Judge Christopher Felstead imposed the latest sentence, emphasizing the severity of Giwa's actions. As Giwa returns to jail, the case raises critical questions about the effectiveness of deportation policies and the challenges in managing repeat offenders within the UK's criminal justice system.
