Southampton man pleads guilty to attempting to smuggle five men into UK
Ibrahim Sollaku who was living in Priory Road, Southampton, was arrested last month
Last updated 16th Dec 2025
An Albanian man has pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle five men into the UK as well as possessing cocaine with intent to supply.
Ibrahim Sollaku, 33, who was living in Priory Road, Southampton, was arrested in Bournemouth, Dorset, on November 5 by officers from the South West regional organised crime unit (SWROCU).
The arrest was made as part of an operation with Belgian law enforcement in which a suspect was arrested and five Albanian men intending to travel to the UK were stopped.
Sollaku pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court on Monday to conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration into the UK and possession with intent to supply class A drugs after more than 90 street deal quanities of cocaine were seized at his home.
He will be sentenced on January 15.
Detective Chief Inspector Adam Smith, from SWROCU, said: "Criminals like Sollaku look to make huge profits by facilitating illegal journeys.
"The high price tags they charge often help to strengthen their criminal networks, causing yet more harm to our communities, usually through drug supply and exploiting vulnerable people.
"The more information we have to help identify suspects and potential victims, the more we can target the networks behind it."
A 55-year-old man from Bournemouth who was arrested at the same time as Sollaku remains on police bail.