Illegal immigrant stashed drugs and £27,000 in cavity wall of Leeds home
He was wanted by immigration officials at the time
An immigrant who fled the authorities was found living a lavish lifestyle in Leeds, selling cocaine.
Vilson Rexhepi had stashed more than £27,000 behind the cavity wall of a property in Chapeltown, along with more than 110 bags of drugs.
They also found designer jackets in his room.
The 26-year-old was jailed at Leeds Crown Court after admitting dealing in Class A drugs and possessing criminal property.
Police went to an address on Pasture Road on September 7 looking for Rexhepi in connection with false ID documents.
He was also wanted for absconding.
Rexhepi was detained, but in his room they found £1,000 in cash, the designer clothing and keys to a Ford Fiesta parked nearby.
During the search of the bathroom they found 110 deals of cocaine worth £4,400 concealed behind the wall. They also found bundles of cash, digital scales and his Albanian passport.
He appeared in court this week via video link from HMP Leeds.
Mitigating, Lily Wildman said Rexhepi had no previous convictions and had “held his hands up to the offending”.
He had arrived in the UK in 2024, having fled his home country due to fears over his own safety.
She said he became involved in drugs “out of a degree of vulnerability and desperation” because he was unable to secure legitimate work, but she conceded it was “no excuse”.
She said he was also remorseful.
The judge, Recorder David Gordon, jailed him for three years and said it was possible that he would be deported upon his release.