Man pleads guilty to smuggling 17 Albanians into Dorset

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 26 Oct, 17:28 · Archive

An Albanian fisherman has pleaded guilty to facilitating illegal immigration after sailing 17 migrants from France to Dorset.

Eno Gajda, a 58-year-old Albanian national, pleaded guilty at Bournemouth Crown Court on 26 October to facilitating illegal immigration. The yacht Cap West had sailed from Dielette, France, on 27 August and was tracked across the English Channel before Border Security Command officers intercepted it off the Dorset coast near Portland. On board were 16 Albanian men and one male minor, who were dealt with by immigration authorities.

In his basis of plea, Gajda said he accepted that there were 17 Albanian nationals on the boat. He stated that he was not acting under duress at the material time, but claimed he was coerced. According to Gajda, this coercion consisted of threats to his family in Albania. He also said he had been promised £10,000 for smuggling the migrants into Portland but did not believe he would ever receive the money. The Crown Prosecution Service accepted his basis of plea.

The National Crime Agency investigated Gajda following his arrest, with officers questioning him after the yacht was escorted to Portland Marina Harbour. NCA Branch Commander Andy Tickner said: "This was a brazen attempt to smuggle a group of vulnerable migrants to the UK." He added that although Gajda had experience at sea, navigating across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes was highly dangerous and put many lives at risk.

Gajda will remain in custody until his sentencing hearing on 18 November, when he will receive credit for his guilty plea. Judge Evans KC said he would be given some credit for entering the plea at the first opportunity.

How it is being reported

• Man admits smuggling Albanians on Channel yachtEno Gajda, 58, will be sentenced next month after the vessel was intercepted off Portland.BBC Dorset · 26 Oct, 17:05
• Fisherman convicted of smuggling 17 migrants across the ChannelAlbanian fisherman Eno Gajda has been convicted of facilitating illegal immigration after sailing 17 migrants from France to Dorset by yacht.Dorset Echo · 26 Oct, 16:44
• Man pleads guilty to smuggling 17 Albanians into Portland on yachtA man who attempted to smuggle 17 Albanian nationals into Portland Harbour before his yacht was intercepted by Border Sercurity Command has pleaded guilty.Dorset Echo · 26 Oct, 16:23
• Man pleads guilty to smuggling 17 Albanians into Dorset on yachtA man who attempted to smuggle 17 Albanian nationals into Portland Harbour before his yacht was intercepted by Border Sercurity Command has pleaded guilty.Bournemouth Echo · 26 Oct, 14:28

In this story: Eno Gajda · Bournemouth Crown Court · Border Security Command · National Crime Agency · Portland · Dorset · Albania · France

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem