Drug Dealer Exploits Human Rights Loophole to Remain in UK After Illegal Re-entry and Repeat Offences
An Albanian drug dealer deported from the UK for serious drug offences has been allowed to remain in the country—despite re-entering illegally and committing further crimes—exposing what critics see as a judicial failure enabled by a lenient interpretation of human rights laws.
Stiljano Ziu, previously jailed for cannabis production and deported in 2018, defied a deportation order and returned to the UK unlawfully. Yet instead of facing swift removal, he exploited EU treaty laws and the UK’s human rights framework to secure residency—by marrying a Greek national and appealing his case in immigration courts.
Despite his criminal history and open defiance of UK immigration law, Ziu’s appeal was upheld by both lower and upper immigration tribunals, with judges ruling he posed no “present threat” to the public or to the integrity of the immigration system. This, even as he was awaiting trial on further drug-related charges.
Judicial Leniency Undermines Immigration Control
The case has sparked outrage within the Home Office, which accused Ziu of showing a “blatant disregard” for immigration controls. The government argued he represented a “genuine and serious threat” to public safety and had no strong familial or societal ties to the UK to justify his continued stay.
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Nevertheless, the upper tribunal dismissed the appeal by the Home Office, insisting that Ziu’s unlawful entry years earlier did not justify deportation—despite the fact that he was facing new charges at the time.
That case has now concluded. In November, Ziu was convicted again, this time for conspiring to supply Class B drugs, and sentenced to four and a half years in prison.
Yet, even at sentencing, the court left the question of deportation in limbo, saying it was a matter for the Home Secretary to “consider.”
Systemic Failure or Judicial Blind Spot?
Critics argue that this is yet another glaring example of how human rights laws are being misapplied, shielding criminals from accountability and undermining immigration enforcement. What was meant to protect the vulnerable has, in this instance, become a tool for repeat offenders to escape justice.
Ziu not only violated the terms of his deportation but re-offended while benefiting from the protection of UK courts—raising serious questions about the balance between individual rights and public safety.
Government Promises Reform
In response to cases like this, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced plans to tighten the legal definitions around human rights in immigration cases. The proposed “common sense” reforms aim to reduce judicial discretion and reinforce the importance of public interest and national security.
But for many, Ziu’s case represents a pattern of legal exploitation, not an exception.
“How many more convicted criminals will be allowed to play the system before we admit the system is broken?” one senior official reportedly asked.
For now, the answer remains uncertain—and the public continues to watch a justice system where criminals may be better at using the law than the victims it was designed to protect.
