Illegal immigrant from Albania who was caught red-handed dealing Class A drugs in Maidstone is jailed

An illegal immigrant who had repeatedly been thrown out of UK was found in Maidstone dealing in Class A drugs.

Albanian Sebastiano Bushati was spotted in a car and followed to Milton Street, off Tonbridge Road, where he was stopped by officers. Judge David Griffith-Jones QC told him: “You were caught red-handed going about your business of dealing in drugs.”

The 24-year-old had been “deported on a number of occasions” but returned illegally each time.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd told Maidstone Crown Court that at the time of his arrest on September 21 this year he was on “immigration bail”. His vehicle was seen parked at the junction of Northumberland Road and Cumberland Avenue, Shepway, and later spotted driving along the Tonbridge Road.

She said that when he was stopped, police discovered cocaine valued at up to Β£10,300 and cannabis, along with Β£600 in Β£1 coins and Β£360 in notes. Ms Todd said initially Duka claimed he was living in West Street, Maidstone, but when police went to the house, the occupants had never heard of him.

Bushati, who admitted two charges of dealing in Class A drugs and one of possessing a knife in public, later admitted he was living in London.

He was jailed for 40 months and the judge ordered the cash be confiscated.

His lawyer, Raginda Gill, said Bushati was unable to work because of his immigration status and was “a young man who was therefore more likely to being groomed and exploited by drugs gangs”.