A man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting to smuggle five individuals into the United Kingdom in a truck and for possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Ibrahim Sollaku, aged 33 and residing on Priory Road in Southampton, admitted to participating in a scheme to aid illegal immigration into the UK and possessing class A drugs with the intention to supply in December 2025. The sentencing took place today.
Sollaku was apprehended in Bournemouth on November 5 last year by officers from the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU). On the same day, in a coordinated effort, Belgian authorities detained a taxi driver and prevented five Albanian men in Bruges from boarding a lorry headed for the UK. Sollaku, an Albanian national, had arranged for the group to be transported by taxi to a port in Belgium, where they were intended to be loaded onto a lorry bound for the UK before being picked up by another taxi upon arrival, as outlined by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
During a search at Sollaku’s residence, authorities discovered over 90 individual portions of cocaine for street distribution, along with handwritten notes related to drug dealing.
At Winchester Crown Court on Friday, Sollaku was handed a sentence of seven years and six months for the smuggling offense and an additional two years and six months for the drug offense, to be served consecutively.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Smith of SWROCU remarked, “Sollaku’s involvement in both organized immigration crime and the distribution of class A drugs indicates a well-connected criminal mindset.”
“His primary concern seemed to be financial gain, disregarding the risks and harm associated with these offenses. Criminals like Sollaku seek substantial profits by facilitating illicit journeys.
“The exorbitant fees they charge serve to bolster their criminal networks, perpetuating harm within our communities. Enhanced information sharing to identify suspects and potential victims enables us to effectively target these criminal networks.”
Anja Hohmeyer, representing the CPS, stated, “Ibrahim Sollaku played a central role in a criminal conspiracy to illegally transport individuals from Albania to the UK.
“This successful joint operation between the UK and Belgium has disrupted international human smuggling rings. Sollaku had the choice to pursue lawful employment and build a future for himself and his family, but he chose otherwise. Those involved in illegal immigration not only jeopardize their own lives but also those of their family members.”
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