It’s not often you hear of someone being deported for drug crimes, sneaking back into the country illegally, committing more crimes, and still winning the right to stay.
But that’s exactly what happened in the case of Stiljano Ziu, an Albanian man whose journey through the UK legal system has sparked confusion and controversy.
First Illegal Entry and a Quick Conviction
Ziu first slipped into the UK illegally sometime in 2017 or early 2018.
By November of that year, he was already in trouble—convicted of growing cannabis and handed a nine-month prison sentence. But his time behind bars didn’t last long.
He agreed to be deported early in exchange for a shorter sentence, taking advantage of a government scheme meant to reduce prison populations.
In December 2018, he was officially removed from the country.
He Came Back Within Weeks—and Committed More Crimes
Despite the deportation order, Ziu wasn’t gone long.
Just weeks after being sent back to Albania, he found his way back into the UK. It didn’t take long for him to pick up where he left off.
Between January 2020 and June 2022, he was involved in more drug-related activity—this time, conspiring to supply Class B drugs.
He was eventually caught and sentenced again in November 2024, this time receiving four and a half years in prison.
A crown court judge even described Ziu as someone who came to the UK “prepared to do any activity, legal or illegal.”
The Legal Battle Over His Right to Stay
Here’s where things took an unexpected turn. After his illegal return to the UK, Ziu met and married a Greek woman in April 2021.
Under EU treaty rights, she had a right to live and work in the UK—so Ziu applied for a residence card as her spouse in December 2020.
That’s when the Home Office caught up with him again.
They denied his application, pointing to his repeated illegal entries and drug crimes.
But Ziu didn’t back down. He took the case to the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal, where the court had to decide: was he still a threat to UK society?
The Courts Say He’s Not a “Present Threat”
In a surprising twist, the court found that the Home Office couldn’t prove Ziu was a “present threat.”
This decision was made in 2023—even though the judge admitted Ziu had “flagrantly and seriously” broken immigration laws.
The ruling allowed Ziu to stay in the country, and naturally, the Home Office wasn’t thrilled.
They appealed the decision and brought the case before the Upper Tribunal.
Another Conviction Complicates the Picture
Before the Upper Tribunal could hear the case, Ziu submitted a letter disclosing he had recently been sentenced for drug conspiracy.
He explained that the offending had taken place between 2020 and 2022—ironically, overlapping with the time when he was trying to get legal residency.
Even with this new conviction on the table, the Upper Tribunal ultimately upheld the original ruling from 2023.
Judge Jonathan Perkins said the earlier judge had made a lawful decision and that the Home Office had failed to prove otherwise.
So… Can He Still Be Deported?
Well, yes. Maybe. Sort of.
Judge Perkins made it clear that just because Ziu won this particular case doesn’t mean he’s off the hook entirely.
His most recent conviction—and the prison sentence that came with it—could trigger a separate deportation process.
The judge emphasized that the final decision is now in the hands of the Secretary of State.
In other words, the Home Office might still remove Ziu from the UK—but they’ll need to start a new legal process to do it.
What Happens Next?
For now, Ziu remains in the UK. He’s still serving time for his latest conviction, but the legal win means that his original appeal stands.
The Home Office may try again to remove him—but they’ll have to follow the proper legal channels.
This bizarre case highlights the complexities—and loopholes—within the UK’s immigration and asylum systems.
Despite clear evidence of multiple breaches and criminal activity, the system couldn’t justify deporting someone who, according to the courts, isn’t currently a threat.
And that, understandably, has left many people scratching their heads.