Notorious Human Trafficker Snared Again in North London
The National Crime Agency (NCA) finally caught Hazir Lala, 39, in Walthamstow, North London, on Friday night. The Albanian national, wanted for multiple crimes, was arrested and transferred to Immigration Compliance and Enforcement for deportation.
Criminal Past Riddled With Serious Offences
Lala’s rap sheet is long and grim. In April 2016, he was convicted in the UK for drunk driving, driving without insurance, and possession of false ID. Those offences dated back to February that year. He got six months behind bars and a 15-month driving ban.
In September 2019, Lala was nabbed again for organised immigration crime linked to Belgium from 2016. He was convicted in absentia in February 2018, and after an extradition order, he was sent to Belgium in early 2020. There, he was sentenced for human trafficking and involvement in a criminal gang.
Despite a five-year jail term, the sentence was suspended, and Lala walked free after just a few months. He was also slapped with a €102,000 fine, half of which was suspended.
Deported but Back Within Months
After bouncing back to the UK, Lala was arrested in February 2020 for overstaying. A deportation order was signed in April 2020, and he was shipped back to Albania in August. But the fugitive repeatedly slipped back into the UK.
Manhunt Ends with Arrest
The NCA had been hunting Lala since July this year. Regional head of investigations Jacque Beer said:
“Hazir Lala is a convicted human trafficker and has no place in the UK. His presence here presented an unacceptable risk to the public.”
Beer added:
“Tackling organised immigration crime and human trafficking is a priority for the Agency. Last week’s Channel tragedy showed the horrific dangers of these crimes, which the Agency and partners are determined to fight.”
Lala now faces deportation, with the date yet to be confirmed.
