A 26-year-old asylum seeker who claimed he was unable to work has been jailed for running a drugs line in a Midlands town. Mariglen Malaj was spotted by undercover officers supplying another man with drugs in Fernwood Drive, Rugeley, Staffordshire.
Details of the Offence
When stopped on December 3 last year, Malaj was found carrying two wraps of cocaine, £1,000 in cash, and two mobile phones. He refused to provide the pin numbers to the phones. Police also discovered a key to a property on Fernwood Drive, where they found a further 27 wraps of cocaine, an Albanian driving license, £1,500 in cash, and a Barclays bank card. The drugs had an estimated street value of up to £1,500.
Crown prosecutor Adam Watkins told Stafford Crown Court that the telephone operating the 'snizz' drugs line was never recovered. Malaj had previously stated he was in the United Kingdom illegally and unable to work.
Defendant's Claims
In court, Malaj, who needed an Albanian translator, claimed he had been advised by friends of people who could provide him with food and accommodation. He said he was provided with a flat, drugs, and phones and was directed to supply drugs, but did not receive any further financial benefit. His defence counsel, Mark Moore, said Malaj had a pending asylum claim and wished to reside in the country.
Recorder Michelle Brown, the presiding judge, accepted there was an element of Malaj being directed by others. However, she noted that while Malaj initially told police he was homeless, it was later discovered he had a stable home where he lived with his girlfriend.
Guilty Plea and Sentence
Malaj initially denied two charges—possession of cocaine with intent to supply and possession of criminal property (cash)—but pleaded guilty to both on March 6 this year. He was jailed for two years and nine months for the drug offence and received a concurrent one-month sentence for the second offence. Judge Brown said he would serve no more than half his sentence before release, but warned that as he is not a UK citizen with no right to remain, he is set to be automatically deported upon release.
