Following arrests in November, a man has pleaded guilty to his role in attempting to smuggle five men from Belgium to the UK by lorry following a joint operation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU) and Belgian law enforcement.
Ibrahim Sollaku, 33, an Albanian national from Priory Road, Southampton, was arrested in Bournemouth on 5 November. At the same time, officers in Belgium arrested a suspect and stopped five Albanian men who were intending to travel.
Sollaku appeared at Winchester Crown Court yesterday morning (15 December) where he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration into the UK and possession with intent to supply class A drugs after more than 90 street deals of cocaine were seized from his home.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Smith from SWROCU said: “Criminals like Sollaku look to make huge profits by facilitating illegal journeys. The high price tags they charge often help to strengthen their criminal networks, causing yet more harm to our communities, usually through drug supply and exploiting vulnerable people.
“The more information we have to help identify suspects and potential victims, the more we can target the networks behind it.”
- If you see something that doesn’t look right – report it to your local force online or by calling 101. In an emergency, call 999.
- You can also report via the Home Office endorsed charity Stop the Traffik: Report an incident | STOP THE TRAFFIK
- Or you can report to Crimestoppers anonymously online or by calling 0800 555 11. Giving information anonymously | Crimestoppers
Sollaku is due to be sentenced on 15 January.
A 55-year-old man from Bournemouth who was arrested at the same time as Sollaku remains on police bail.
