Asylum Seeker Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution in Midlands Town
An Albanian national seeking asylum in the United Kingdom has been handed a prison sentence after being convicted of operating a cocaine distribution network known as the 'snizz' drugs line in the Midlands. Mariglen Malaj, aged 26, was apprehended by undercover police officers in Rugeley, Staffordshire, on December 3 last year, marking a significant crackdown on local drug activities.
Undercover Operation Uncovers Drug Supply
Police surveillance led officers to observe Malaj walking to an alleyway on Fernwood Drive, where he appeared to supply another individual with drugs. Crown prosecutor Adam Watkins detailed that suspicions were confirmed when the other man was stopped and found in possession of cocaine wraps and a telephone. This incident triggered a broader investigation into the illicit operations.
Upon detention, Malaj was discovered carrying £1,000 in cash, two additional wraps of cocaine, and two mobile phones for which he refused to provide pin numbers. Keys to a property on Fernwood Drive were also found, leading to a police search that uncovered 27 more small wraps of cocaine, £1,500 in cash, a Barclays bank card, and an Albanian driving license. The total street value of the drugs was estimated to be up to £1,500, although the telephone used to operate the 'snizz' line was never recovered.
Claims of Coercion and Pending Asylum Status
During proceedings at Stafford Crown Court, it was revealed that Malaj had previously stated he was in the UK illegally and unable to work. Wearing a brown coat and requiring an Albanian translator, he claimed through the prosecution that friends had advised him of people who could provide food and accommodation. Malaj alleged he was supplied with a flat, drugs, and phones, and was directed to supply drugs, asserting he received no further financial benefit from these activities.
Defence counsel Mark Moore highlighted that Malaj has an asylum claim still pending and no prior convictions, expressing his client's desire to reside in the country. However, Recorder Michelle Brown, presiding over the case, noted that while there was an element of Malaj being directed by others, he had told officers he was homeless, yet it was later discovered he had a stable home where he lived with his girlfriend.
Sentencing and Deportation Warning
Malaj initially denied two charges—possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possession of criminal property (cash)—but pleaded guilty to both offences at a court hearing on March 6 this year. Recorder Brown acknowledged his relative youth, asylum seeker status, and pending application, but emphasized the seriousness of the crimes.
For the drug offence, Malaj, of no fixed address, received a prison sentence of two years and nine months. A further one-month sentence for the second offence was ordered to run concurrently, meaning he will serve no more than half of his sentence before release. Crucially, the judge warned that as a non-UK citizen with no right to remain, Malaj faces automatic deportation upon his release from prison, underscoring the legal consequences of his actions.
