Drug Dealer Avoids Deportation Due to Daughter’s Bedwetting

By the Editorial Team · Monday, July 27, 2026

Shpresim Koka, a UK resident convicted of multiple drug offenses, avoided deportation after a tribunal ruled that sending him to Albania would cause significant emotional harm to his daughter, who struggles with bedwetting and psychological distress. This decision underscores the challenge of balancing immigration enforcement with protecting the welfare of vulnerable family members, despite the seriousness of the offender's crimes.

A man convicted of drug offenses has avoided deportation from the United Kingdom after a tribunal judge ruled that sending him back to Albania would impose undue hardship on his daughter, who suffers from bedwetting and related emotional distress.

Shpresim Koka, 38, originally arrived in the UK in 2001, claiming refugee status from Kosovo at the age of 14. Over the years, he has faced multiple convictions related to drug crimes. In 2017, Koka was sentenced to 21 months in prison for assisting a drug gang in laundering over £300,000. The National Crime Agency apprehended him during an operation in Park Royal, West London. Following his release, Koka was scheduled for deportation but remained in the country.

In 2022, Koka received a three-year prison sentence for dealing cocaine. After this conviction, the Home Office sought to deport him once again. However, Koka appealed the deportation order on the basis of his daughter's welfare. Evidence presented to the First-Tier Tribunal immigration court indicated that the girl’s symptoms, including bedwetting and nightmares, intensified whenever Koka was incarcerated. A social worker involved in the case also recommended that the child required therapeutic intervention to address her emotional health.

In a ruling issued in February of the previous year, the tribunal concluded that deporting Koka would cause “unduly harsh” effects on his daughter, effectively blocking the Home Office's deportation efforts. The government subsequently challenged this decision, prompting the scheduling of a new hearing on the matter.

Robert Bates, representing the Centre for Migration Control, criticized the ruling, labeling Koka as a criminal who poses a continuing threat to public safety. Bates argued that either Koka should face deportation or be accompanied by his daughter if he is allowed to remain in the UK.

The case highlights the complex considerations that arise when immigration authorities weigh the enforcement of deportation orders against the potential impact on family members, particularly minors, in the context of serious criminal convictions.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.