‘Guernsey is not a staging post for illegal entry to UK’
Guernsey will not be used as a ‘dumping ground’ for illegal immigrants on their way to the UK, the Royal Court said yesterday as it sentenced a Greek/Albanian national to more than three years in jail.
Drimiand Vuka, 25, who lives in London, had admitted facilitating the illegal entry of three Albanian nationals into the Bailiwick from France, on board a private yacht. He had arranged the travel and provided false ID cards for them. In the island, he had chaperoned them, acted as a translator, and ordered meals and taxis for them.
He was sentenced to three years, nine months in prison.
‘Guernsey is not a dumping ground for illegal immigrants and must not be seen as a soft touch,’ said Lt-Bailiff Russell Finch as he passed sentence.
‘Guernsey is not a staging post for illegal entry in to the UK and we give notice that any further breaches will attract enhanced penalties.’
He said there had to be an element of a deterrent in the sentence. ‘Don’t try it here,’ was the message to anyone else considering doing the same, he said.
Lt-Bailiff Finch commended the good work by the Guernsey authorities in this case.
Such offences were rare in the island, he said, and the court intended to see that remaining the case.
Crown Advocate Fiona Russell said it was clear that the defendant had not been acting alone and others were involved in what had been a co-ordinated and well organised unlawful attempt to move foreign nationals in to the UK via the Bailiwick.
The attempt failed when the illegal immigrants were stopped by Border Agency staff while attempting to travel to Poole via ferry, and returned to France.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the defendant’s mobile phone along with a 30ft yacht, Pluhums, which had been seized at the time. The vessel, which had bought from a UK seller by an Italian national for £5,500 last July, had been used to bring the illegal immigrants to the island.
Vuka was also recommended for deportation on his release from prison.
The Guernsey Border Agency said in a statement: ‘It is clear from the evidence that this was a co-ordinated unlawful attempt to move foreign nationals into the UK through the Bailiwick. This case demonstrates that Guernsey is not immune to the risks posed by organised crime and illegal migration.
‘However, as a result of this investigation and the vigilance of Guernsey Border Agency staff, significant criminality has been disrupted and an individual brought to justice. Bailiwick Law Enforcement takes illegal immigration offences incredibly seriously, as the protection of our borders and the Common Travel Area is a top priority.’
