A convicted drug dealer from Albania successfully avoided deportation from Britain by arguing that his removal would be too harsh on his young daughter, who suffers from bedwetting and nightmares that worsen when he is incarcerated.

Criminal History Spans Two Decades

Shpresim Koka, 38, first entered Britain in 2001 at age 14, falsely claiming to be a refugee from Kosovo. His criminal record includes a 2017 conviction for money laundering, when the National Crime Agency caught him transferring more than $370,000 in cash for a drug operation in west London. He received 21 months in prison for that offense.

After serving his sentence, authorities initiated deportation proceedings. However, Koka remained in the country and was arrested again in 2022 for cocaine dealing, earning him an additional three-year prison term. Following this second conviction, immigration officials again moved to remove him from Britain.

Court Rules in Criminal’s Favor

Koka appealed the deportation order, presenting evidence that his daughter experiences psychological distress during his absences. The immigration tribunal heard testimony from a social worker who stated the child required therapeutic intervention due to nightmares and bedwetting that intensified whenever her father was imprisoned. In February of last year, a First-Tier Tribunal immigration court sided with Koka, ruling that the impact on his daughter would be unduly harsh if he were deported to Albania.

The Home Office challenged this decision, and officials have ordered a new hearing to reconsider the case. The outcome of this appeal will determine whether Koka finally faces removal after more than two decades in Britain, including multiple criminal convictions.

Critics Demand Enforcement

Immigration policy experts have criticized the tribunal’s decision, arguing that family considerations should not override public safety concerns in cases involving repeat offenders. Robert Bates from the Centre for Migration Control argued that the convicted criminal must not be permitted to continue threatening public safety on British streets. He noted that Koka’s daughter could accompany him to Albania if family unity was the primary concern. The case highlights ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement and family rights arguments in deportation proceedings involving foreign nationals with criminal records.