Abdurraouf Eshati, aged 29, from Wrexham was sentenced for terrorism and immigration offences today at the Old Bailey, Eshati received a six year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty yesterday at court.
Eshati was one of 20 people found in the back of a lorry after it was stopped and searched in Dover by police. He was challenged and searched after he was seen by an officer to be acting suspiciously and using his phone whilst the lorry was processed. Following a search of his phone, two documents were found which led to his arrest and charge for possessing a collection of information likely to be of use to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism.
Police also discovered a number of false documents which had been provided by Eshati to an immigration tribunal in 2012, he was subsequently charged for immigration offences.
CPS spokesperson said: “The very fact that Eshati pleaded guilty to these offences on the first day of his trial is a testament to the strength of the case and evidence brought against him.
“Images found on his phone included an invoice for a massive amount of ammunition worth $28.5 million and the hiring of a cargo plane to be used in Libya.
“The information that was contained within those documents found on Eshati’s phone were considered likely to have supported and been useful to an individual preparing to commit an act of terrorism. Such was the scale of his activity, the court was told his arrest and the finding of these documents has led to Italian authorities discovering large scale illegal arms supplies being imported from eastern Europe to conflict zones in Libya and other places.”
Additional Info:
Count two: Collection of information, contrary to section 58(1)(b) of the Terrorism Act 2000 - four years and six months
Count three: Seeking to obtain leave to remain in the UK by deception, contrary to section 24A(1)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 - 18 months
