Fatjon Gjeta, 27, of Derby Road, Southampton and Erion Dulli, 44, of Portswood Road, Southampton, both from Albania, appeared at Southampton Crown Court to be sentenced for their parts in a Southampton drugs operation.
They both admitted to charges of possession with intent to supply cannabis, being concerned in the supply of cannabis and possession of criminal property.
Matthew Paris, prosecuting, told the court that police recognised Gjeta carrying a large cardboard box into the boot of a taxi at around 10.30am on January 14, 2026.
It was stopped shortly after, and police found Dulli in the rear, but no Gjeta. A search of the taxi boot found five bags of cannabis, each weighing 1kg.
Fatjon Gjeta (Image: Hampshire Constabulary)
Gjeta was then located on Onslow Road. He was searched, and police found a key to a property on Lodge Road, which they then also searched.
In total, 33.8kg of cannabis was seized, estimated to be worth between £62,000 and £82,000.
Additionally, £9,529.85 in cash was found.
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Fatjon Gjeta (Image: Hampshire Constabulary)
Mr Paris says that the duo had been using the taxi to drop off the drugs with street dealers.
He added: “It is a significant role they played with the expectation of a significant financial advantage.”
Chris Amis, mitigating for Dulli, said: “He accepts what he has done, and he asks for credit to which he is entitled.
“He is of no previous convictions, and he tells me he has none in his own country.
“He came to this country as an asylum seeker. He was finding it difficult to make ends with the small amount of money that was made available for him, that was how he got drawn into drug dealing.”
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Eve Shelley, mitigating for Gjeta, echoed the mitigation given by Mr Amis.
Gjeta had arrived in the UK in 2020 and was going through a judicial review for his rejected asylum application, which meant he had no right to work.
She said: “No income. That is how he found himself in Southampton, involved in this operation.”
She added that Gjeta, who had nowhere to live, had been staying at the property on Lodge Road.
Judge Gary Lucie said: “You have both pleaded guilty to three offences concerning drugs.
“You are likely to be deported; that is a matter for the immigration people.”
Judge Lucie sentenced them both to 27 months in prison.