A former Albanian drug dealer deported from the United Kingdom has been permitted to remain in the country following a judicial ruling centered on the mental health of his partner. The decision was issued after a lengthy legal process that challenged his removal on human rights grounds.

Dardan Hoxhaj initially arrived in the UK in 2017 and was later convicted for his involvement in a drug trafficking operation valued at £750,000. He was sentenced in 2018 to three years’ imprisonment for conspiring to supply drugs and possession of a false identity document. Following his release, he was deported to Albania on September 4, 2018. However, Hoxhaj returned to the UK within a month without detection, remaining undetected by authorities for nearly three years.

Hoxhaj subsequently applied to remain in the UK as a dependent partner under the EU Settlement Scheme, although it is understood his application was rejected. In February 2023, he submitted a further appeal to stay in the country on human rights grounds. This appeal was refused by the Home Office in 2025. Nevertheless, a tribunal overturned this decision in May, allowing him to stay.

Judge Fiona Lindsley ruled that the immigration tribunal had not erred in permitting Hoxhaj to make a human rights claim. The judge accepted arguments that deporting Hoxhaj would have a detrimental impact on his partner, an Albanian woman who suffers from complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression, reportedly stemming from her experience as a trafficking victim. Hoxhaj’s barrister, S Karim, contended that Albania’s strict social codes would pose additional challenges for her return, especially as a pregnant mother with a young child.

The Home Office, represented by senior presenting officer N Terrell, argued that the claim had not been proven to meet the high threshold required to establish “undue harshness.” However, Judge Lindsley found the evidence presented was “lawfully sufficient,” noting no reason to doubt the substantial difficulties the partner would face reintegrating into Albanian society, particularly given her history of trafficking and abuse.

Social worker Paris Blake provided testimony emphasizing Hoxhaj’s role in maintaining the emotional and physical stability of the household shared with his partner. According to Blake, despite his criminal past, Hoxhaj is integral to the care of their child, whose asthma exacerbates his partner’s distress, including panic attacks. The tribunal heard that Hoxhaj contributes essential support through cooking, cleaning, and providing his partner with much-needed respite.

Judge Lindsley also criticized the Home Office’s failure to explain how social services might mitigate the hardship on Hoxhaj’s partner should he be removed, describing the Home Secretary’s case as “fatally undermined.” The ruling sets a notable precedent for future cases where the welfare of partners with mental health challenges is considered in deportation appeals.