Kosovan Drug Dealer Avoids Deportation Due to His Young Daughter
A Kosovan drug dealer, Andi Shoshari, aged 34, who infamously boasted about his life in prison through social media, has successfully won the right to remain in the UK. This decision comes as a result of the courts acknowledging his one-year-old daughter, who is deemed too young for video calls.
Shoshari was sentenced to three years in prison in 2019 for his involvement in a cocaine distribution network. While incarcerated, he shared multiple pictures on Facebook depicting his life behind bars, including a festive Christmas party where he celebrated with fizzy drinks and cocktail sausages. One of his posts lightheartedly declared, “You can lock us up but you can’t stop us living it up.”
In a recent ruling, an immigration asylum court determined that deporting Shoshari would present an “unduly harsh” impact on his young daughter. The court cited Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which guarantees the right to family life. The presiding judge noted that his daughter would miss out on significant physical interaction with her father.
While the Home Office contended that Shoshari and his daughter could maintain their relationship through modern technology, such as Zoom or FaceTime, the court dismissed this argument. It was highlighted that the young child would not be adequately engaged by these forms of communication.
Furthermore, the court acknowledged that Shoshari’s British partner is currently pregnant with their second child, and moving to Kosovo would create a “bleak” situation for her. Despite the Home Office’s assertion that the best interests of the child should not be used as a “trump card”, they argued that deportation would not be excessively harsh, citing improvements in Kosovo since Shoshari’s departure and the presence of family there.
However, the panel pointed out ongoing issues in Kosovo, including significant “security and socio-economic concerns” along with rampant corruption and instability. They stated, “Navigating a new country and its health system, whilst pregnant, would be tough.” They further elaborated on the challenges posed by the mother’s complex medical history, the presence of a very young child, and her unfamiliarity with the local culture, which would contribute to a highly stressful and bleak scenario.
Shoshari, who came to the UK legally at the age of nine with his family, has amassed 12 convictions for a total of 18 offences. He began a relationship with his care worker partner in 2021, and the couple welcomed their first child in March of the previous year. They are now expecting their second child in June.
In June 2019, Shoshari was one of six individuals sentenced for their roles in the drug trafficking operation. During the sentencing, Judge Jonathan Black remarked that their scheme represented a “failed attempt to monopolise the supply of cocaine to others in the Woking area.” Following his incarceration, Shoshari continued to post images from his cell, often sporting branded clothing such as Nike and Adidas.
Ultimately, the panel concluded, “We find [Mr. Shoshari] has made out his case to the required standard that his deportation from the United Kingdom would be disproportionate. Applying the law as it stands today, we conclude that there are very compelling circumstances over and above the exceptions to deportation.”
