An Albanian drug dealer who repeatedly flouted UK immigration laws has been sentenced to prison after returning to Britain illegally for the third time.
Chronicle of deportation breaches
Emirjon Gjuta, 34, first faced deportation in August 2020 following convictions for drug offences. The Crown Prosecution Service revealed he had received a four-year, six-month prison sentence in September 2019 after admitting conspiracy to produce cannabis and two counts of possessing identity documents with intent.
In October 2019, authorities served Gjuta with a deportation decision, which he signed without objection. Despite this formal agreement, he managed to re-enter the UK illegally and was arrested in March 2022 for breaching his deportation order and possessing another person's identity document.
Failed defences and repeated offences
Gjuta's legal representative attempted to mitigate his actions by claiming the defendant 'had not fully understood' the deportation order contents because he lacked interpreter services during both his 2020 and 2022 court appearances.
However, this defence was undermined by documentation showing Gjuta had signed papers confirming he did not object to his 2020 deportation and never sought to appeal against it. The spokesperson admitted uncertainty about how Gjuta entered the UK in November 2024, though he was eventually arrested in Leeds this September.
Strong stance from prosecutors
At Leeds Crown Court on Friday, Gjuta received a 14-month prison sentence after admitting to re-entering the UK in breach of his 2020 deportation order. This marks his third immigration offence within four years.
Nick Smith from the CPS delivered a stern response: 'Emirjon Gjuta had no right to remain or work in the UK and has been deported twice already. It's clear he does not care about the rules and has committed crimes when he's been in the UK previously.'
Smith emphasized the ongoing collaboration between the CPS, Home Office and police forces, stating: 'The CPS will continue to work with the Home Office and police forces to prosecute those who have no right to be in the country.'
Following his March 2022 arrest, Gjuta served an eight-month prison sentence before being deported again in March 2023. His persistent disregard for UK immigration laws has now resulted in further incarceration.
